LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Shelf 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



HOW TO GET 



AND KEEP 



Churches out of Debt, 



AND ALSO A 



LECTURE 



SECRET OF SUCCESS 



ART OR MAKING MONEY 



/BY 
/ 

Rev. J. W. Stevenson, M. D, 



" JUN 1 1886 

% v i o / 7 / rV 



ALBANY: 

WEED, PARSONS AND COMPANY. 

1 886. 



spy 



Entered according to act of Congress April twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and 

eighty-six 

By J. W. STEVENSON, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. 



The Library 
of Congress 

WASHINGTON 



LC Control Number 










tmp96 


025645 



TO THE 



BISHOPS, CLERGY AND MEMBERS 

OF THE 

flR^IGAN ffiBTHODISJH CPISGOPAL (§HUI^6H 

THIS VOLUME IS 

RESPECTFULLY" DEDICATEE, 



If trie experience and suggestions contained herein will in 
any wise help them from falling into that saddest of church 
errors — church indebtedness — or having so fallen, will aid 
them in regaining an established footing on a safe financial 
platform, then will have been accomplished the unselfish 
purpose of their friend and brother. 

THE AUTHOR, 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

PREFACE, - - - - - - - - vii 

Introduction, - - - - - - ix 

Biography, ------- xiii 

Personal Experience, - xvii 

CHAPTER I. 
General Principles, - i 

CHAPTER II. 
General Principles (continued), - - 14 

CHAPTER III. 

Ho^Y Churches get in Debt, - - = 24 

CHAPTER IV. 
Church Debts can be Paid, - - - 51 

CHAPTER V. 
Keeping Churches out of Debt, - - 103 

CHAPTER VI. 
New Enterprises and their Dangers, - 156 



vi 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VII. Page 

Raising Money for Missions, - - - 180 

CHAPTER VIII. 
The Sabbath Collection, - - - 228 

CHAPTER TX. 

The Tithe, Free-will Offering, and Alms- 
giving, - 236 

CHAPTER X. 
The Book Concern Plan of Financiering, 259 

CHAPTER XL 

An Address on Successful People — Good 
and Bad Luck, or the Secret of Suc- 
cess and the Art of Making Money, - 263 



PREFACE. 



My purpose in publishing this volume on Church 
Financiering, is to aid and assist my struggling 
brother pastors and officers of the Church of Christ, 
in this important mission which is assigned to each 
and every worker in God's vineyard. 

There are comparatively few who realize the im- 
portance of systematic giving ; it is the duty of every 
minister to bring the subject before his congregation, 
that they may see it in the right light, and profit 
thereby. 

One evening of every week should be set apart on 
which the members can meet for the careful reading 
of this, or some similar work, with accompanying 
passages from the Word. 

Many who are able to give would, by this means, 
have their duty made plain to them ; it is not enough 
to hear it preached from the pulpit, it must be made 
to come home to each individual, showing him that 
by withholding from the Church, the poor, and the 
needy, he is withholding that which is not his, but 
only intrusted with him for that purpose. 

From my long and varied experience, in this work, 
extending over a period of more than twenty-seven 
years, I have found churches burdened and ham- 
pered, and their spiritual existence fast flowing out, 
in consequence of bonded and floating indebtedness, 



viii 



PREFACE. 



and an absence of practical knowledge on the part 
of pastors and officers, as to the best means to be 
employed and adopted to cancel them. And so, at 
the request of many interested in this work, I have 
concluded to present a few suggestions, and submit 
a few plans, that I trust may prove of assistance, 
and be helpful. 

We all know, too well, that che mission of the 
Church, namely " The Salvation of Souls," is greatly 
hindered, and the cause of Christianity too often im- 
pugned, and ridiculed, by the terrible scourge of 
Church debts ; and if I can, with God's blessing con- 
tribute in the slightest way toward relieving these 
impediments, I shall truly feel that I have added my 
mite to my Master's cause. 

J. W. STEVENSON, M. D. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Master said : " When it is evening ye say. it 
will be fair weatHfer : for the heaven is red. And in 
the morning, it will be foul weather to-day : for the 
heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to dis- 
cern the face of the heaven, but ye cannot discern 
the signs of the times." Commenting on this, Bengel 
briefly says : " Two most common and most popular 
signs.'* We call attention to the fact that there are 
such things as signs, by means of which the future 
may be gauged ; and such signs too, we beg to be 
permitted to say further, as are universally true, and 
not like those quoted above, only true in certain 
climes. The sign to which we call attention, is, as 
we have said, universally true ; and whenever and 
wherever discerned, leads as certainly to well-known 
results, as the river leads to the sea — the sign of a 
new people making books. What does it portend ? 
Nothing less than this, when that people shall have 
attained its majority, to say nothing of its attaining 
mature age, it will take high rank in the book-mak- 
ing of the world. That the Colored American is to 
be classed as a people, in a sense new^ needs no argu- 
ment — new, we mean, to all the great activities of 
modern Christian life. And yet, in a way the most 
surprising, they are already taking to book-making. 

Twenty-five years ago. the number of books written 



X 



INTRODUCTION. 



by colored men could be numbered by the fingers 
on one hand, on both at most. Not so now, how- 
ever. Almost every month brings us some new 
venture in the book-making line ; showing conclu- 
sively, that the negro American, is shortly to rank 
among the most prolific of book-makers. These are 
but as signs — as the first fruits. But do not signs 
mean something ? Do not the first fruits give assur- 
ance of the harvest ? Precisely. Discerning, then, 
this sign of the time, these first fruits, we have no 
hesitancy in proclaiming the absolute certainty of 
the negro figuring largely in the world of book- 
makers. 

We were led to pen these lines upon the invitation 
of an old friend, Rev. J. W. Stevenson, M. D., to 
write the Introduction to his new book. That one 
so wide awake as he should write a book, surprises no 
one ; and that he should write upon church finances, 
is the least surprising of all. Absolutely living in the 
atmosphere of finance, it was of all things most nat- 
ural that he should write upon this subject ; and as 
might be expected, write intelligently. A mere 
glance at the table of contents convinces us at once 
that the book will fully meet the expectation of his 
friends ; in that he has written in an exceedingly help- 
ful way — helpful to the pastor sent either to build 
a church, or to finish paying for one already built — 
and helpful to the people so burdened. There is no 
subject that should command more attention than 
this. Scores and hundreds of our churches are over- 
shadowed with debts. How to proceed in the work 



INTRODUCTION. 



xi 



of relieving them is of the first importance. Dr. 
Stevenson, an old hand at the bellows, tells us in this 
volume : That it may prove a real blessing to the 
whole church, is the prayer of him who writes this 
brief introduction, 

B. T. TANNER, 
Office of A. M. E. Church Review, Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 

COLORED AUTHORS. 



Bishop Allen, D. D., 
Bishop D. A. Payne, D. D., 
Bishop A. W. Wayman, D. D., 
Bishop J-. W. Hood, D. D., 
Bishop J. J. Moore, D. D., 
Rev. B. T. Tanner, D. D., 
Bishop H. M. Turner, D. D., 
LL. D., 

Rev. Alexander Cromwell, D. D., 
Rev. M. W. Taylor, D. D., 
Hon. Frederick Douglass, 
Rev. E. W. Blyden, D. D., LL. D., 
Hon. George W. Williams, 



Hon. William Wells Brown, 

Rev. T. G. Stewart, D. D., 

Prof. J. P. Sampson, 

H. O. Flipper, Esq., 

A. A. Whiteman, Esq., 

Prof. We I. Scarboargh, A. M. : 

J. M. Trotter, 

T. T. Fortune, Esq., 

J. M. McGee, Esq. r 

Martin R. Delaney, Esq., 

David Smith, Esq., 

T. McCants Stewart, A. M., 

Rev. J. W. Stevenson, M. D. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



[This sketch of the writer's life was written by the Rev. William 
D. Johnson, D, D., Secretary of the Board of Education of the 
A. M. E. Church.] 

Rev. J. W. Stevenson was born in Baltimore. Md., 
August 15, about 1836. His parents, John and Ann 
Stevenson, removed to Trinidad, W. L, in 1840, tak- 
ing John and five other small children. His father 
died in less than a year after landing on the island. 
His mother, becoming discontented, returned to the 
States, a widow with seven children, one having been 
born on the ocean.. John was bound out to J. P. 
Stanly, a stove dealer in Baltimore, and sent to work 
on his farm near the city. His stay in this situation 
was very short. He was sold four different times on 
account of his high spirit. When eighteen years of 
age, he succeeded in purchasing his time with the 
earnings of extra labor. Having gained the precious 
boon, he determined to seek a more northern climate. 
He went to Philadelphia, and hired with a barber 
under the Girard House, where he remained one 
year. Afterward he engaged as porter in the drug 
store of Mr. Henry Kollock, corner of Ninth and 
Chestnut streets. Mr. William Kearney and his 
brother, clerks in the store, observing the extra- 
ordinary talent which Mr. Stevenson exhibited, com- 



xiv 



BIOGRAPHY, 



menced to instruct him in medicine. In one year 
he had made such progress in compounding that he 
was made a clerk in the store. Mr. Kollock, desir- 
ing that he should become a physician for his people, 
sent him to Dr. Wilson, a colored physician practic- 
ing in the city, that he might receive the necessary 
instruction from an able doctor of his own race. It 
not being convenient for Dr. Wilson to take him at 
the time, by the influence of his friends, he was re- 
ceived by Prof. Woodward, with whom he remained 
five years, engaged in his professional studies at the 
Philadelphia University of Medicine. While at the 
University he became alarmed about the salvation 
of his soul. After six months of deepest conviction, 
God delivered him out of his wretched condition. 
He joined old Bethel A. M. E. Church, Sixth street, 
where he was very active in the Sabbath School. 
Feeling the weight of souls heavy upon him, he was 
licensed to exhort in 1858, by Rev. W. D. W. Schure- 
man. The next year he was licensed to preach by 
Rev. Joshua Woodlin. He became the adopted son 
of Bishop Campbell, from whom he drank in the 
very essence of the doctrine and laws of Methodism. 
He was soon taken into the itinerancy by Bishop 
Hazrey, and sent to the Westchester circuit, where 
he succeeded remarkably as pastor and physician. 
His next appointment was Freehold, N. J., where he 
was very popular in preaching, and in the practice of 
medicine. He was one of the delegates from the 
general conference of 1864, to the general conference 
of the Zion A. M. E. Church, In the same year he 



BIOGRAPHY. 



XV 



was ordained a Deacon, and sent to Oxford circuit, 
where he has remained ever since. Lincoln Univer- 
sity is at the head of this circuit. His church, of 
which many of the students are members and local 
preachers, being within a stone's throw of the 
buildings. He has been a regular student in the 
University three years, and is pursuing a thorough 
ministerial education under the patronage of Bishop 
Simpson and other friends in the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Dr. Stevenson was one of the most promi- 
nent students in the institution, his practice of medi- 
cine being very large among them, as well as in the 
neighborhood. Besides these things, the Doctor 
attended faithfully to the four points on his circuit. 
He is like the " iron man," Bishop Campbell, in 
strength and rapidity of motion. He is one of the 
greatest revivalists in the connection, and is likely to 
become the Spurgeon of the A. M. E. Church, and 
is looked upon as being the greatest church builder 
and financier of the connection, having planned and 
constructed the largest church among colored people 
in the United States, namely, the Metropolitan 
Church of Washington, D. C. This church has a 
seating capacity of two thousand five hundred. He 
has three times in his life built two churches in the 
compass of eighteen months and paid for them, has 
been devoted to this work, and because of his ex- 
tended experience in this branch of the Christian 
Church of which he has shown himself to be so well 
adapted (as though especially fitted for the work by 
the Almighty), he has been requested and urged from 



xvi 



BIOGRAPHY. 



time to time by bishops and ministers, both of our 
own and other churches, to write a book upon the 
subject, and give his brother pastors his successful 
plans of church financiering ; he has at last under- 
taken the work, and in the book that you now have 
before you, he gives his own thoughts, with as many 
others as he has gathered, to his brother pastors, 
officers and members of the Church of Christ, trust- 
ing that, with the help of Almighty God, they may 
be as successful as he has been in building up the 
waste places of Zion. 



PERSONAL 



EXPERIENCE. 



My first experience in the art of raising money 
for church purposes, dates back to my first appoint- 
ment as pastor of a charge, in the year 1859, * n West- 
chester, Pa.; which congregation I found laboring 
under great embarrassment for two reasons, viz., the 
dilapidated state of the church building, and the still 
poorer location of the same. Although being young 
in years, I felt that I had been called of the Lord to 
help carry on His work, in compliance with the com- 
mand, "go ye into all the world and preach the 
gospel;" and I also found that this could be more 
thoroughly done by, and through, His church ; and 
that to be effectual, it must not be crippled by 
financial embarrassments. I, therefore, proceeded at 
once to sell the old structure, bought a new lot. and 
started the people in the direction of a new church 
edifice, which was afterward built : after this I re- 
moved to Freehold, from thence to Oxford, Pa., and 
then to Snow Hill, X. J. ; there I was successful in 
building two churches, and paying for them, in the 
space of eighteen months ; it was the center of a cir- 
cuit, that embraced three places, viz.. Snow Hill. Mil- 
ford and Jordantown ; the first and second named, 
having the new churches, and the remaining one being" 
repaired at the cost of 8i ? ooo. One of the leading 



xviii 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



features of raising money at this place, besides the sub- 
scriptions, was an " ox roast/' prepared and carried 
on by the colored people under my command, netting 
us $1,000 toward our church fund, in one day. I was 
greatly aided at this place, both with money and en- 
couraging words, by Ezra Evans, a Quaker gentleman, 
who gave me from his own purse $1,000, and through 
whose influence, his brother and others donated lum- 
ber and shingles, and other needed material, until the 
church was completed. Showing to me that the Lord 
always raises up friends for us if we trust in Him. I 
left there at the end of two years' pastorate of hard 
labor — left the two churches free of debt. 

I then went to Delaware circuit, w r hich embraced 
five churches, most of which were dilapidated, and 
suffering from mortgages, and old standing debts ; 
my head-quarters were at Camden. At Dover, the 
capital of the State, there was no church of our con- 
nection ; and considering it a good place, I proceeded 
at once to purchase a lot 50x100 feet at a cost of 
$1,000, which was paid for; this is all that was ac- 
complished by me, as my time was too short to do 
more than lay the foundation, and leave to others 
who should come after me, the completing of the 
work. 

At the next conference held at Carlisle, Pa., the 
bishop received a communication from Wilkesbarre, 
Pa., saying that a man must be sent there who could 
save their church (which was about half completed), 
which had already been advertised for sale by the 
sheriff, and I was appointed to go ; on arriving there. 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



xix 



I found a " bill of sale " on the church ; my boarding 
place being with one of my stewards, I inquired what 
amount would be necessary to satisfy the claims, and 
learned that $2,000 would meet the emergency. I 
then found a white lady of wealth, Mrs. Thomas, 
who after hearing my plans for raising the money, 
although I was a stranger, immediately loaned me the 
money, and with it the carpenters were paid, which 
removed the lien ; after which they proceeded at 
once to complete it at a cost of 810,000, and, by the 
blessing of God, I was enabled to see it out of debt in 
the space of two years. The agency employed, was 
an organization of white ladies, with Mrs. Thomas as 
president ; they arranged for suppers and concerts, 
and with the collections from the white churches, and 
private subscriptions, the required amount was raised^ 
In this church work I was greatly aided by the faith- 
fulness and earnest work of my own people. One 
item I would like to mention: — the men of the 
church dug the trenches for the gas-pipes by moon- 
light, and were rewarded by the company donating 
the pipes, and $100 in money. While engaged at the 
work in Wilkesbarre, I received a letter requesting me 
to come to Bloomsburg also. I accordingly went, and 
found the people had a lot selected, but no church ; 
my first work was to visit the different pastors of the 
city, and those in an adjoining village named Espy, 
where upon invitaton of the pastor of a large Meth- 
odist church, I occupied his pulpit, and after preach- 
ing, stated my purpose to build a church in Blooms- 
burg; a lady came to me, and encouraged me by 



XX 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



saying, that it had long been needed, and if I 
undertook it, I could rely not only upon her wealth, 
but also on her influence, to assist in carrying the 
work through ; plans and specifications were imme- 
diately gotten out, and the work commenced, and 
here I can record an experience that I have never 
had before nor since — the amount to pay for it was 
raised in one day, and that ciay was the dedication 
day ! 

Collections were taken in all the churches in 
Bloomsburg and Espy, which met the required 
amount, with the exception of $300 ; when just at 
the close, a blank check was sent from this same 
lady (to whom reference has been made), who was 
dying, with a message to the effect that her check 
must be made out to meet the deficiency that ex- 
isted ; and it was made out for $300, thus clearing the 
church from debt. It was named " Elizabeth mis- 
sion, " in honor of this Christian lady; and thus, by 
the blessing of God, two churches were built in the 
compass of eighteen (18) months, and my labors were 
ended in Wilkesbarre. From here I was sent in 1874, 
to Burlington, N. J., which also included " Mount 
Holly; " at the first-named place the church was re- 
modeled at a cost of $2,500, and the second at a cost 
of $500, beside building, through my influence, a brick 
school-house for the children, at a cost of $3,000. I 
remained here three years, had a good harvest of 
souls in both churches, numbering one hundred and 
fifty. Thus the Lord always honors those who trust 
Him, and brings them off more than conquerors. My 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



xxi 



next appointment was at Trenton, N. J.; here I found 
" Old Mount Zion," a picture of which will be found 
in this book, and also a picture of the neAV one. The 
old structure was in a dilapidated condition, with the 
walls all cracked, and breaking from leakages in the 
roof ; and at the back, there was an old burying- 
ground with tombstones falling down, and ruin mani- 
fested on every hand. The membership slowly les- 
sened, and the church was almost deserted, in this, 
the capital city of New Jersey. Among my first 
friends who came to the rescue, was Joseph McPher- 
son, Chancellor Green and the Rev. Mr. Sooy. Mr. 
McPherson was one of the leading trustees in the 
State Street Methodist church, and with him were 
associated four other leading wealthy gentlemen, who 
formed a finance committee. A meeting w r as called 
for the trustees and congregation, and a resolution 
passed that the old structure should be taken down 
and replaced with a new one. Dr. John Hall, for 
thirty-five years pastor of the Presbyterian church, 
prepared an article for the papers, setting forth the 
need of the people, and called on the citizens for help ; 
and as they saw his earnestness and zeal in the w r ork, 
they too caught his inspiration, and responded nobly ; 
and I also received great assistance from the ladies of 
the place, and judges, and leading citizens regardless 
of denominations. In accordance with the resolution 
the old church was taken down, and the bodies in 
the grave-yard removed ; in order to give more room 
for a larger structure, which was built at a cost of 
§10,000, and pronounced to be one of the finest 



xxii 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



churches in the State, and all paid for by subscriptions 
solicited by myself. After the debt was paid we had 
a revival, and to the seventy members already in the 
church, three hundred more were added;, and the 
Sunday School increased from twenty to three hun- 
dred. While engaged in this work, strange as it may 
seem, I was impressed that I should cross the Dela- 
ware, and build a chapel for my people in the village 
of Yardleyville. One of the members of my finance 
committee, Mr. H. V. B. Jacobus, went with me and 
purchased the ground, 50x100 feet, paying for it him- 
self. A finance committee was appointed, consisting 
of three gentlemen, the chairman of which was the 
president of the Newtown Bank, Pennsylvania. Plans 
and specifications were drawn up, and in the short 
space of four months, the chapel was built and paid 
for by the residents of the village, and the surround- 
ing farmers ; some donating stone, some brick, others 
lumber, lime, sand and labor. As there was no 
organization in this place, I organized a Sabbath 
School with forty children, and preached every Sab- 
bath morning (during the erection of the chapel) in 
the Town Hall. At the dedication I presented forty 
names for church membership, thus constituting a 
permanent church organization, which was presented 
to the next conference, and which has been supplied 
with a pastor ever since ; and thus my work of build- 
ing two churches in less than two years, was accom- 
plished. 

I was then appointed Presiding Elder of the East- 
ern District of the State, by Bishop Payne, D. D. f 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



xxiii 



my head-quarters being at Trenton. My district in- 
cluded Princeton, Pennington, Rahway, New Bruns- 
wick, Elizabeth, Newark, Orange, Paterson, Wash- 
ington, Morristown, Freehold, and Jersey City. In 
nearly all these places I found the churches burdened 
with debts, many of them having been standing for 
years; and the spiritual life was mostly ebbed out. 

I gave advice to the pastors from time to time, 
and succeeded in removing the mortgage from the 
church at Rahway, and building a new chapel at 
Washington, N. J., which was paid for, and dedicated. 
I received great assistance from Mr. Beatty, proprie- 
tor of the organ manufactory in that city. This work 
was accomplished in one year, when Bishop Payne 
received a letter from Bishop Brown, requesting my 
transfer to the Baltimore conference to be appointed 
at Union Bethel Church, Washington, D. C, for the 
purpose of building a new church. The request was 
granted, and my appointment made in 1880. Upon 
arriving there, I found that while it had been the de- 
sire of the bishop to have this work done, it was not 
the wish of the majority of the membership ; and 
hence in attempting it I met with great opposition ; 
but after some discussion, a resolution was passed by 
the trustees and members that the work should go on. 

Two or three of the best ministers in the confer- 
ence had been sent to Washington several years be- 
fore, to build, what was to be known as the Metropoli- 
tan Church, which was to be the representative church 
of our connection ; but they failed for reasons for 
which they were not to blame, for they were good, 



xxiv 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



effectual ministers of the gospel, and had been suc- 
cessful in building churches in other places. I con- 
sidered this an opportune time to try again and 
build the Metropolitan Church, instead of Union 
Bethel. I, therefore, requested Bishop Brown to call 
together the Bench of Bishops at his house, which he 
did; and they decided also the same, and commanded 
me to go forward with the work. I engaged an archi- 
tect to draw plans for the church according to my 
directions, as my plans seemed to be from divine 
inspirations, and he allowed me to guide his hand. 
The dimensions of the church were to be 127x84 feet ; 
with a seating capacity of 2,500 in the auditorium ; 
with a lecture-room and primary Sunday school-room 
and class-rooms and church parlors ; and a room for 
the meeting of the bishops. An additional lot was 
purchased in connection with the old site in which to 
place the new structure. The old building was torn 
down by the members of the church, and the bricks 
cleaned by them to be used again. By this and with 
the selling of the old lumber there was a saving of 
$3,000, and the work began in earnest. As the mem- 
bership of the church was 1,100, they were divided 
into twelve classes, the leaders of which met me from 
time to time to be trained in the art of raising money 
in their several classes. My first plan was to issue 
85,000 envelopes which were given to the leaders, 
fifty-two for each one in his class ; one for every Sun- 
day in the year. I also prepared " shot-bags" for 
each to keep their money in. I had all the " sinners " 
known as the pastor's class, and the first Sunday in 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



XXV 



in every month we received a collection of $r,ooo as 
the report from the " shot-bags and the classes 
toward the building of the new church. Besides 
this, entertainments were given from time to time 
for the same fund, and every second Sunday in the 
month a general collection was taken for the current 
expenses of the church, and the glorious work went 
on and was completed according to the plan, at a 
cost of over $100,000, and dedicated to Almighty 
God for divine services on May 30, 1886; and it now 
stands in the capital city of these United States as 
a monument of zeal and earnestness, which has sur- 
mounted many difficulties, and which is a credit to 
the entire African Methodist Episcopal connection ; 
and too much credit cannot be given to the trustees, 
especially John A. Sims and William Becket, and also 
the board of stewards for their faithfulness and co- 
operation, and also the good members of the church. 
Arrangements had been previously made by the 
general conference that $5,000 should be given each 
year from its funds to help pay for this church, which 
in addition to what had been paid, and what the 
members were still willing to pay, would not take 
very long to clear the church from debt. May her 
walls be constantly crowded with converts ! 

The church in Albany, N. Y., being in such a 
perilous condition^ about to be sold to satisfy a mort- 
gage of $6,000 and a floating indebtedness of $1,500* 
demanded immediate action, and I was sent there 
by Bishop Caine, July, 1884. My first work was to 
call upon the members of the church, and obtain, if 



xxvi 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



possible, a unity of action among themselves ; but 
found that the majority of them were unable to do 
any thing of any account, so I would have, of neces- 
sity, to seek help outside. I then called, upon Rev. 
Charles Reynolds, the city missionary and editor 
of the "Work at Home" who was well acquainted 
with the citizens ; he treated me very kindly per- 
sonally, but thought the out-look was very dark, as 
many of the citizens had given repeatedly for this 
purpose, and yet no satisfactory result had been ob- 
tained ; but after seeing my credentials, and my suc- 
cessful work in other places, and a hearty indorsement 
by Bishop Simpson, he published the facts in the 
" Work at Home." This brought me before the public 
in a proper light. I then called on Mr. Archibald 
McClure, and stated the facts, and he gave me $100 
and loaned me $80 to pay the back interest on the 
mortgage ; and the gentleman holding the mortgage, 
after my explanation that I had been sent here to 
save the church, extended the time of foreclosure ; 
thus giving me an opportunity to enter fully into my 
work. I then called on Mr. James W. Eaton, who 
referred me to Mrs. Leander Stickney, who having 
seen the account given in the " Work at Home" had 
expressed a desire to see me in relation to it ; and 
after an explanation, agreed to assist in the work, 
first by subscribing $100, and then adding, that she 
would be willing to assist in forming an organization 
of ladies. I then called on all the pastors of the city, 
asking them to meet in the church on Monday after- 
noon, September 30, 1884. The following responded : 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



xxvii 



Rev. Win. S. Smart, Rev. John McC. Holmes, Rev. 
S. V. Leech, Rev. Thos. C. Potter, Rev. Wesley R. 
Davis, Rev. James H. Ecob, Rev. Edwin F. See, 
Rev. Frederick Widmer, Rev. George W. Miller, 
Rev. John Jaeger, Rev. Albert Foster, Rev. D. W. 
Gates, Rev. Henry K. Boer, Rev. H. Hartwing, Rev. 
J. F. Neef, Rev. A. W. Stocking, Rev. S. F. Morrow, 
Rev. J. Wolfenden, Rev. J. H. Coleman, Rev. J. W. 
Eaton, Rev. W, D. Nicholas. These represented 
the several Protestant churches of the city ; and here 
the condition of the church was fully discussed pro 
and con ; and finally a resolution was passed, unani- 
mously indorsing me, and pledging me their support. 
I then called for a committee of five laymen, to be 
known as a " finance committee." The following were 
appointed: C. P.Williams, Congregational Church; 
Archibald McClure, Presbyterian Church ; James W. 
Eaton, Methodist Church ; James Covert, Baptist 
Church; J. Townsend Lansing, Reformed Church. 
The following named clergymen were appointed to 
prepare an appeal for the public press, w T hich was to 
be inserted in a book, to be used by me when calling 
upon the citizens to solicit subscriptions : Rev. Wm. 
S. Smart, Rev. John McC. Holmes, Rev. S. V. Leech. 

I then called on Mrs. L. Stickney, and it w r as there 
suggested that we have a " jubilee concert." I en- 
gaged a troupe from the South, and the use of the 
opera house was donated for one night by Mrs. Rosa 
M. Leland ; and the following ladies, Mrs. Leander 
Stickney, Mrs. Frederick Townsend, Mrs. W. W. 
Crannell, Mrs. P. L. Eastman, Mrs, G. W. Van Slyke, 



xxviii 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



Mrs. Hitt, Mrs. Jones and Miss Lucy A. Plympton, 
made personal efforts in circulating the tickets ; and 
also succeeded in renting the private boxes to the fol- 
lowing gentlemen, who occupied them : President- 
elect Cleveland, Mayor Banks, Erastus Corning and 
Major Haggerty. While this work was going on, my 
own people held a thirty days' feast in the church, 
called the " Feast in the Wilderness ;" and with this, 
and the receipts from the concert, the entire floating 
indebtedness was all paid ; leaving just the mortgage 
of $6,000. In order to bring the facts of the church 
more clearly before the people, a paper was edited 
by Mrs. Hitt, and published, called the Macedonia?^ 
which was gratuitously circulated; the advertisements 
solicited by some of the ladies, w r hich were published 
in it, netted enough to pay Mr. McClure the $80 
loaned, beside a small surplus. Three numbers of the 
paper were issued. After so much had been accom- 
plished, and the church relieved from immediate 
danger, it was decided to let the work rest until 
the early fall ; some of the ladies, however, work- 
ing with me in soliciting subscriptions in the books 
arranged for this purpose. As my year's pastorate 
was up in June, the ladies desired that I should 
be returned another year, and requested the bishop, 
R. H. Caine, to meet them, which he did, and as- 
sured them that I should be returned to finish up 
this work. The last week in September Mrs. Hitt 
came down from her summer residence, to make an 
effort to get the ladies together to unite upon some 
plan for raising some money. In response to the 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



xxix 



notices given in the churches, and through the daily 
papers, nine ladies met me in the parlor of Miss 
Plympton. The names of the ladies are Mrs. Hitt, 
Mrs. Edmunds, Mrs. Van Slyke, Mrs. Ackroyd, Mrs. 
Orr, Mrs. Freeman, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Thacher and 
Miss Plympton. The meeting was called to order, 
and Miss Plympton was chosen temporary Chairman 
and Mrs. C. W. Jones temporary Secretary. It was 
then decided that an organization of the ladies 
should be formed, to be known as the " African 
Church Relief Association," and the officers elected 
were as follows : President, Mrs. L. Stickney, Metho- 
dist ; vice-presidents, Mrs. W. F. Freeman, Re- 
formed ; Mrs. George A. Thacher, Episcopal ; Mrs. 
P, L. Eastman, Baptist ; Mrs. James W, Eaton, 
Methodist ; Mrs. Gascoigne, Methodist ; Mrs. S. C. 
Rice, Methodist; Mrs. J. T. Hubbell, Methodist; 
Mrs. Oscar Smith, Methodist ; secretary, Mrs. C. W. 
Jones ; treasurer, Mrs. George W. Van Slyke, Re- 
formed. After the election of officers, upon motion 
of Mrs. Hitt it was decided to hold a fair or bazaar, 
and arrangements were begun. Bleecker Hall was 
secured to hold it in, and the time fixed for opening 
was Thanksgiving evening, and to be continued the 
four days following. Entertainments were held each 
evening, and the success was most gratifying, netting 
the society $2,500. The different churches repre- 
sented were as follows : Madison Avenue Reformed, 
managed by the following ladies : Mrs. W, F. Free- 
man, Mrs. George Yerks, Mrs. Safford, Mrs. Howell, 
Mrs. Wadhams, Mrs.' Van Slyke and Miss Menand. 



XXX 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



The Calvary Baptist, managed by Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. 
Crosby, Mrs. Witt, Miss Mills, Miss Kimball, Miss 
Pitcher. Second Reformed, Mrs. Clinton Ten Eyck, 
Mrs. E. H Van Antwerp, Mrs. E. Dunscomb. The 
Second Presbyterian, Miss Lulu Harris, Miss Vos- 
burgh. Fourth Presbyterian^ managed by Mrs. S. N. 
Bacon and daughter. St. Paul's Episcopal, managed 
by Mrs. Geo. A. Thacher, Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Bouck, 
Mrs. Ackerman. The pupils of the Academy under 
Miss Plympton. The Methodist churches united in 
carrying on the " lunch and ice cream room," and it 
was managed as follows : First M. E., Hudson avenue, 
Mrs. James W. Eaton, Mrs. Simons, Misses Reston, 
Melius, Smith, Persons* Ash Grove, Miss Schuyler, 
Mrs. Gascoigne, Mrs. Ingmire, Mrs. Childs, Mrs. 
Teel, Miss Blackall, Miss Featherly. Grace, Mrs. S. 
C. Rice, Mrs. Edmunds, Mrs. France, Mrs. Keayes. 
St. Luke's, Mrs. Hubbell, Mrs. Carrier, Mrs. Dr. 
Smith. Trinity, Mrs. Oscar Smith, Mrs. Gardner, 
Miss Staley, Miss McClaskey, Mrs. Bogardus. The 
following of my own church rendered valuable 
assistance in the lunch department : Elizabeth Arm- 
strong, Sarah Freeman, Mary Lodge, Diana Williams, 
Caroline Williams, Matilda Van Alstyne, Julia Ten 
Eyck, Maria Cross, Lizzie Robinson, Hattie Brown, 
Abbie Anderson, Sarah Savoy, Moses Freeman. 
Frojn the receipts of the bazaar, a year's interest was 
paid and $2,000 on the mortgage, and the mortgage 
changed to residents of Albany ; paying only five 
per cent interest on the regaining $4,000 instead of 
six per cent which had been paid on the $6,000; and 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



xxxi 



at a meeting held later it was reported that $500 
more had been paid on the remaining amount ; and 
a list of names of the citizens was arranged and 
given to the ladies who were pledged with me to 
finish this work, which will end my labors in Albany. 
Too much credit cannot be given to this band of 
ladies who so nobly came to the rescue ; and as the 
pastor of the church, I would publicly acknowledge 
my thanks to them, and to the citizens generally, 
who have responded in such a generous manner. 
To some of the ladies I would also acknowledge 
thanks for personal assistance, and kind sympathy 
extended to me and my family. I earnestly hope, 
and pray, that others may be induced to follow their 
example, and help relieve the churches burdened by 
debts ; and the following chapters of this book are 
designed to give suggestions and help in this direc- 
tion. May God add his blessing to the work! 




1 



SOME OF THE PLAXS 

OF 

CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



By Rev. J. W. Stevenson. M. D. 



CHAPTEPv L 

FEW persons acquainted with the internal his- 
tory of most churches cannot have failed to 
notice that there is a class of its preachers, whose 
ministerial lives are largely devoted to bringing up 
arrearages in the current expenses of their respect- 
ive charges. Many have been led to inquire with 
the writer, why these deficiencies, and whence 
arises the necessity for these special efforts ? If a 
given charge is able to pay its expenses at all, could 
it not as well pay them regularly as they occur? 
Nay, could it not with greater ease make each year 
pay its own expenses ? If so, why is it not done, 
and the necessity for these special efforts avoided ? 
To this latter question a variety of answers might 
be given; but we think the true cause will be found 
in the want of a well-digested and well-tried system 
of church financiering. To contribute somewhat to 
the supply of this great want is the only object of 
the present effort. The plans about to be suggested 



2 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



may not in all cases be practicable, or even if adopted, 
be always crowned with success. And yet, judg- 
ing from his own experience, and a somewhat ex- 
tended acquaintance with the experience of others, 
in this direction, the writer is disposed to think that 
if carefully adapted to the circumstances of the 
charges using them, and perseveringly adhered to 
when adopted, they will generally secure the object 
desired, and in all cases will yield a better return 
than would have resulted from the old policy. But 
before presenting the proposed plans, the writer 
would present as a basis of action the following 

GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 

1. No church can have permanent success whose 
finances are not kept in a healthy condition. 

2. Each year should be made to pay its own ex- 
penses, and under no circumstances should the cur- 
rent expenses of one year be allowed to interfere 
with the financial operations of the church during 
any succeeding year. 

3. All special or spasmodic efforts for the payment 
of current expenses should be avoided, as they are 
always productive of evil, and only evil. 

4. The financial interests of every department of 
the church, no matter whether under the immediate 
direction of the trustees or the stewards, should be 
regarded as identical, and the action of the two 
boards, so far as the raising of means to meet the 
expenses of the church is concerned, should be made 
to harmonize, thus cutting off all those jealousies 
and petty differences among official members that 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



3 



so often divide the church and retard the progress 
of religion. 

5. The plan adopted by the officiary of any church 
for the raising of funds to meet expenses must be 
carefully adapted to the circumstances and social 
condition of the membership, and when adopted, be 
retained from year to year, so that the people may 
become accustomed to its workings and have confi- 
dence in its wisdom and success. 

6. Official boards should so conduct the business 
of the church as to retain the confidence of the 
members, and secure their cordial co-operation. 
This will require them to report often, at least once 
a quarter, the state of the finances, and to present 
at the end of each conference year a detailed state- 
ment of the receipts and expenditures of the pre- 
ceding year, together with their estimates for the 
ensuing year. 

Supposing now that the official members of a 
given charge have resolved with the pastor to con- 
duct the financial affairs of the church on business 
principles, the first step to be taken will be to make 
out estimates for the year. 

These estimates should embrace every expendi- 
ture of the church, should be made with great care 
in their separate board meetings, and then confirmed 
by the two boards in joint meeting assembled ; said 
meeting also determining what proportion of the 
funds each board is to receive from month to month, 
and what plan is to be adopted for the raising of the 
funds desired. 



4 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



These preliminaries should be attended to as soon 
as possible after conference, so that both officers and 
members, at the beginning of the year, may know 
exactly what they have to do and how they are to 
do it, and commence the work with as little delay as 
possible. 

The following may serve as a specimen of the 
estimates to be made by the joint boards: 

Estimated Expenses and Receipts of the 
Churchy for the conference year ending 
1 88 . 



I. ESTIMATES OF THE TRUSTEES. 



Ground-rent on church lot, valued 


at 






$5,000, - - - - 




$300 


00 


Interest on bond and mortgage 


for 






$2,000, - - - - 




120 


00 


Interest on church scrip, $500, 




30 


00 


Discount on note in bank, $600, - 




27 


00 


Reduction of note, $100 each quarter, 




400 


00 


Insurance on church property, - 




25 


00 


Water-rent, - - - - 




13 


00 


Sexton's salary, $4 per week, 




208 


00 


Light and fuel, - 




150 


00 


Repairs, incidentals, - 




50 


00 


Total, - - - - - 




$1,323 


00 


Deduct basket collections, estimated 


at 


323 


00 


Amount to be raised for trustees 


by 






special plan, - 




$1,000 


00 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 5 

2. ESTIMATES FOR STEWARDS. 

Pastor's salary, - $1,000 00 

Rent of parsonage, - 250 00 

Parsonage furniture, - - - - 50 00 

Presiding elder's salary, - - - 100 00 

For the poor of the charge, - - - 120 00 

For sacramental purposes, - - - 10 00 

Total, 81,530 00 



Dollar money for Bishop, 
Children's day money, 
Endowment day money, 
For missions, etc., 
For organist, - 
For education, 



S300 00 
25 00 
100 00 
200 00 
100 00 
200 00 



Total, - - $925 00 



Grand total, - S 2 ?455 00 



Deduct quarterly collections, estimated at $100 00 
Deduct communion collections at 130 00 

Total, ------ §230 00 



Amount to be raised for stewards by 

special plan, ... . $2,225 00 



Total needed by both boards, 



$3,225 00 



6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



The receipts from month to month to be divided 
between the two boards, in the ratio of $10 to the 
trustees and $13 to the stewards, each board to 
provide temporarily for its own deficiencies if any 
occur. 

The estimates having thus been made, and the 
amount to be raised by special plan determined, one 
of the following plans might be adopted for that 
purpose : 

PLAN 1. 

In managing the finances of a pewed church, it 
will often be found practicable to so assess or rent 
the pews and sittings as that the proceeds will not 
only meet the annual expenditures, but also provide 
a sinking fund for the gradual liquidation of any 
debt that may remain ; care should be taken to 
make the assessment sufficiently high at first to 
meet the desired object, as it will be found much 
easier to lower it subsequently than to increase it. 

The rents above named should be paid either in 
advance or in monthly installments to collectors 
appointed to receive them, and by said collectors 
should be paid over promptly at the end of each 
month to the leaders' meeting, or to a joint meeting 
of the two boards ; the secretary making a perma- 
nent record of the same, and duly crediting each 
contributor in a properly prepared financial book, 
such as is published by Messrs. Carlton & Porter. 

The moneys reported should then be divided be- 
tween the two boards in the proportions previously 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. * 7 



agreed upon, and the amounts handed at once to 
their respective treasurers. 

PLAN 2. 

The trustees and stewards having made their esti- 
mates as aforesaid, on as liberal a scale as possible, 
and with considerable margin for losses and other 
contingencies, one of the following modes may be 
employed for securing the pledges and collecting 
the money, to-wit : 

i. Let the official members, aided by their pastor, 
select from the congregation an intelligent commit- 
tee of convenient size, composed of men of integrity 
and standing in the community, some members of 
the church and some not, who shall apportion the 
amount needed among the various members of the 
church and congregation, according to their respect- 
ive ability to pay. The appointment being thus 
made, let the secretary of the committee address a 
note to each person assessed after the following 
order, namely : 

Dear Sir — The committee appointed to apportion 
the amount necessary for the support of the 
Church for the present year among its members 
and the congregation have concluded, after due 
deliberation, that you can afford to pay the sum of 
dollars. If you acquiesce in this judgment, 
you will please pay the same in monthly install- 
ments, inclosing the amount in an envelope, writing 
your name with the amount inclosed upon the out- 



3 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



side, and depositing the same in the basket or box 
on the first Sabbath in each month, when it will be 
passed around in the church to receive these monthly 
payments. If you demur at the apportionment, you 
will please inform A. B., our treasurer, immediately, 
stating to him what amount you will pay in the 
manner aforesaid. 

Yours truly for the committee, 

WM. H— , 

Secretary, 

Or, if it be thought better, the following mode 
might be adopted : 

2. Let a public meeting be called by the official 
members for the purpose of devising ways and 
means for the support of the church the ensuing 
year. After the financial report for the past year 
has been read, and the estimates for the present 
year been presented, let the congregation appoint 
by vote a large and efficient collecting commit- 
tee, who shall proceed at once to obtain the sub- 
scriptions of all present, and after dividing the 
neighborhood into a number of districts correspond- 
ing with the number of collectors, shall extend their 
applications to all in the community friendly to the 
church. A second meeting should then be called, 
and if a sufficient amount has not been secured, the 
persons present should be invited to increase their 
subscriptions so as to secure at once the entire 
amount needed. After that the collectors, having 
distributed the several names among themselves, 
should make their call regularly every month, and 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



9 



report the same monthly to the leaders' meeting, 
or to a joint meeting of the committee, to be prop- 
erly credited to the respective contributors, and to 
be divided between the two boards, according to the 
ratio previously agreed upon. 

PLAN 3. 

1. Let the trustees and stewards, assisted by the 
pastor and leaders, after having made their estimates 
for the year on a liberal scale, as before directed, 
apportion to each class the amount they think it 
ought to raise. 

2. Let the two boards, which should consist of an 
equal number of members, divide themselves into 
sub-committees of not less than two members each, 
and confide to the care of each of said commit- 
tees the financial interests of one or more classes for 
the ensuing year. 

3. Let each leader, aided by the committee to 
whose care his class has been intrusted, after report- 
ing the amount apportioned to the class, endeavor 
to get each member to voluntarily assume such a 
proportion of the whole as he is able to pay, taking 
care to continue the efforts till all have been called 
on, and the entire amount apportioned is subscribed. 

4. Let the leaders then, or collectors appointed 
for the purpose, be careful to secure from each mem- 
ber of their respective classes every month a proper 
portion of the amount subscribed, and report the 
same in detail to be entered upon the financial rec- 
ord at the leaders' meeting, and by said meeting 



IO 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



handed over to the treasurers of the two boards as 
before provided for. 

PLAN 4. 

1 . Let the trustees and stewards, after having made 
their joint estimate for the year, ascertain how much 
of the aggregate amount they will need weekly, and 
what proportion of this sum the circumstances of the 
several members will warrant them in assigning to 
each class. 

2. Let the leaders then, aided by the committees 
provided for in the last-named plan, endeavor to get 
each member of their respective classes to assume 
such an amount weekly as will secure the aggregate 
desired. The poorest members should be encouraged 
to give of their penury, while the more wealthy 
should give of their abundance ; and care should be 
taken to continue the effort till the whole sum de- 
sired has been secured in reliable subscriptions. 

3. This being done, the leaders or collectors should, 
both by example and precept, encourage the people 
to pay their subscriptions weekly, allowing no one to 
get more than a month in arrears without calling on 
him and reminding him of his obligations. 

4. The collectors should report in detail as before 
the amounts collected from month to month at the 
leaders' meeting, said meeting properly crediting each 
contributor, dividing the funds received, and handing 
over the same to the respective treasurers. This 
last plan, we think, will be found best adapted to the 
majority of our free-seated churches. It is substan- 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



tially the plan recommended to the Corinthians by 
the Apostle Paul when he says, " Upon the first day 
^ of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, 
as God has prospered him, that there be no gather- 
ings when I come." 

It is the plan introduced by John Wesley, and so 
successfully used by his followers in England and 
other portions of the British possessions. 

It is, in short, the plan best suited to the poor of 
our churches, and that will secure from them and 
others the largest return. 

Many a poor man will pay a few cents a week to 
the church in this way who on any other plan would 
pay nothing at all ; while those in better circum- 
stances would pay much more annually in w r eekly 
installments than they would think of giving if left 
to contribute from mere impulse, or in larger sums 
at the end of the quarter or the closing up of the 
year. 

And then, too, the moral influence of this habit 
of contributing to the cause of Christ weekly cannot 
be but salutary, since it must constantly remind 
those who do it of their obligations to God and the 
church, and thus keep them from becoming worldly- 
minded and sordid in their feelings and pursuits. 

And believing this, we would encourage all of our 
churches that have a membership large enough to 
support them without calling in outside help, to 
adopt the plan of weekly contributions, and to 
studiously and perseveringly maintain it till all our 
people shall have learned to give from principle 



12 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



rather than mere impulse, and to give with regularity, 
and the largest degree of liberality. 

As to circuits embracing several distinct congre- 
gations, one of the foregoing plans may be adopted 
by each appointment, the stewards having previously 
determined in a joint meeting what proportion of 
the general expenses of the circuit said appointment 
will be expected to pay. This assignment, if possi- 
ble, should be made at the last quarterly conference 
of the preceding year, or at furthest immediately 
after the preacher in charge has come to the circuit* 
The custom that prevails in some localities of wait- 
ing from three to six months before fixing the 
preacher's salary and arranging for its collection can- 
not be too strongly reprehended ; it is not only un- 
business like, but it is unfair to the church and 
unjust to the minister. The people should know as 
soon as possible just what they have to pay, that 
they may provide for it; and the minister should know 
what he is to receive, that he may regulate his ex- 
penses accordingly. 

But in order to the successful management of the 
finances of a church on any plan that might be sug- 
gested, the use of a properly prepared financial rec- 
ord will, we think, be found indispensably necessary. 

The accounts can be readily kept by any one capa- 
ble of holding the position of secretary; and the 
little trouble that may be involved in keeping them 
will be amply compensated by the increased confi- 
dence of the contributors, and the improved con- 
dition of the finances that will result therefrom. 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



13 



For such a record will not only prevent the possibility 
of the funds of the church being lost or misapplied 
by negligent or dishonest collectors, if such should 
at any time be appointed, but will also prompt those 
who, through indifference or meanness, contribute 
nothing at all now, to pay something, and those who 
now give but little, for the same reasons, to con- 
tribute in the future more liberally, or in proportion 
to their known ability. 

With these suggestions the writer would commend 
the whole subject to the careful consideration of the 
members of the church, and especially those in offi- 
cial positions, as one eminently worthy of the most 
thorough investigation, since it is intimately con- 
nected with the peace and prosperity of our respect- 
ive charges, and with the progress and ultimate 
triumphs of the church in general. 

You will be further instructed in this book on 
other plans in the succeeding chapters. 



14 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



CHAPTER II. 

CHURCH debts are more than grievous bur- 
dens. They are great hindrances to the spread 
of the gospel and the salvation of men. They aid 
Satan to retain his usurped possession of the world ; 
and, during the half century past, he has been using 
this subtle and deceptive scheme with great success. 
The church has fallen into the hands of the despoiler, 
and the present condition of the Christian church 
demands a change of financial policy — not a new, 
but a return to the old and God-given method. 
When Moses was about to erect the Tabernacle, he 
appeared before the people with these words : u This 
is the thing which the Lord commandeth, saying, 
take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord ; 
whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an 
offering of the Lord: gold and silver and brass." 

Church debts are nowhere sanctioned in the Bible, 
either by precept or example. Neither does the 
custom of loading churches with debt come from 
the heathen. The temples of the Hindoos, the 
mosques and masjids of the Mohammedans, the 
temples and " towers of silence" of the followers of 
Zoroaster, the sacred caves of the Buddhists, each 
and all structures set apart for religious purposes 
by heathen nations, are dedicated and remain free 
from debt. Not in the Bible, either among the an- 
cient Jews or in the primitive church, do we find 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



T 5 



any thing of this destructive church-debt policy. 
But in Christian America, expensive and debt-bur- 
dened churches are to be found everywhere. Their 
numbers over-step the boundaries of hundreds, and 
press into the thousands ; the proportion is not 
diminished, but rather increased. 'The situation is 
one which demands the earnest thought and hearty 
co-operation of all Christian people. 

A church debt has very justly been denounced 
" a church curse." It paralyzes every energy of a 
congregation. The grand possibilities of hundreds 
of congregations are to-day lost, both to the church 
and the world, simply because financial perplexities 
crowd out nobler thoughts, and leave no room for 
spiritual and eternal things. 

The theory that a new church and a popular min- 
ister will attract outsiders, increase the membership 
and pay the debt is a dangerous delusion. The 
principle is untrue, both in the business of the world 
and the affairs of the church. People will pay with 
some cheerfulness toward the success of a new enter- 
prise, but, when solicited to contribute toward an 
undertaking already so unsuccessful as to be em- 
barrassed with debt, they will give sparingly as well 
as grudgingly, for in church affairs as in every thing 
else, " nothing succeeds like success." If a church, 
therefore, would be prosperous and useful, it must 
shun every thing which looks like a church debt, 
whether great or small. 

Instead of aiding to increase the membership, a 
new church, struggling under a heavy debt, or per- 



i6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



haps mortgaged for more than it would bring under 
the hammer, invariably repels the very class it was 
designed to attract and capture. Men who are not 
personally responsible for a debt, which they had 
not the pleasure of aiding to contract, are very slow 
voluntarily to assume it. New-comers and old resi- 
dents, when seeking a spiritual home, will search out 
those free from incumbrance, and avoid most studi- 
ously every church with a debt. In this way the 
debt saps the best interests of the church, causing 
it to waste away because of unreplenished life. 

The greatest sufferers in this ruinous church-debt 
policy are not usually among the laity, but among 
the clergy. 

Too often congregations " bind heavy burdens and 
grievous to be borne," and lay them on the minister's 
shoulders ; but they themselves will not move them 
with one of their fingers. The crushing responsibili- 
ties or undue anxieties are left to exhaust his physi- 
cal energies, to make unlimited demands upon his 
mental activities, and to unfit him for the duties both 
of the pastoral and ministerial office. To be efficient 
in his calling, these matters should be intrusted to 
persons properly appointed to that department of 
church work. The apostles, that they might give 
themselves entirely to the ministry of the word, in- 
trusted these auxiliary matters into the hands of 
those competent to superintend them ; it was u not 
reason that they should leave the word of God to 
serve tables," neither is it reasonable nor right that 
ministers should now leave the word of God to be 
slaves to a church debt. 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



I? 



If a minister is left to struggle with desperate finan- 
cial difficulties all the week, there can be in his Sab- 
bath ministrations but few " thoughts that breathe 
and words that burn." But the fact that the church 
has a debt is given as a conclusive reason why his 
sermons, clear, logical and convincing, should be 
clothed in choicest language, beautifully adorned 
with illustrations winnowed from history, science and 
the harvested literature of the ages. He must 
" draw" and pay the debt, or give place to one who 
will. Excellent pastoral qualities, spiritual graces, 
intellect and learning, all these pass for naught. 

Debt begets a feverish thirst for sparkling and sen- 
sational preaching. The servant of God who seeks 
the perfecting of the saints, the edifying of the 
body of Christ, and the imparting of " the light of 
the knowledge of the glory of God," is passed by for 
one who will cater to every taste, and regard the 
wishes of men rather than the commands of God. 
Xext to the necessity which compels hundreds to 
eke out a respectable living on an insufficient salary 
church debts are despoiling the gospel ministry of 
most of its efficiency and usefulness. 

They also serve to defeat the design which Christ 
had in establishing the church. The edifice should 
be erected and dedicated to the worship of Jehovah, 
the preaching of the gospel, and the salvation of souls. 
Instead of these, how many churches are sacred only 
to the purpose of attracting men of means who shall 
help to pay for the unholy trap in which they have 
been caught. " The foolishness of God is wiser than 



i8 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



men." God " hath chosen the foolish things of the 
world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the 
weak things of the world to confound the things 
which are mighty ; and the base things of the world, 
and the things which are despised, hath God chosen." 
But the church in debt feels that prudence demands 
another policy, and so the worldly rich are gathered, 
both small and great, into the church. These men 
are counseled, placed in positions of trust, elected to 
office, and how often are men of wealth or influence 
in the world, and without religion, allowed to deter- 
mine the question and say who is to feed the flock 
of Christ ? Their opinions are preferred to those of 
the children of God, simply to secure their aid in 
supporting the man of their choosing. How many 
pulpits are to-day spiked by the devil in this very 
way? "Know ye not that the friendship of the 
world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will 
be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." The 
voice from Heaven says: "I will make a common 
man more precious than fine gold, and a great man 
than the golden wedge of Ophir." Why then seek 
the rich, rather than the poor? Why convert the 
house of God into a house of merchandise, or forfeit 
the freedom of God's people by selling the house of 
God in slavery to sin ? The borrower is always the 
slave of the lender. 

Another and very sad result of church indebted- 
ness is the great distrust which it begets in a com- 
munity. Claims presented remain unpaid and the 
church falls into disrepute. Persons untaught in 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



19 



these matters naturally expect — and have a right to 
expect from the principles taught in the Christian 
church- — that claims against its organization would 
be most promptly met when payment is demanded. 
When, however, one after another becomes wearied 
of pressing claims that remain unpaid, the church is 
spoken against, and as a result these persons are 
largely lost to the power of the truth. The influence 
does not stop here, but the injudicious, if not dis- 
honest, policy is denounced by all fair-thinking 
people, and may proceed so far as to close to the 
church every avenue of usefulness in a community. 
It is but fair to expect the church to maintain and 
practice those principles which it was established to 
teach. 

Another result of this unsound policy is its in- 
evitable tendency to extinguish every benevolent 
sentiment of a congregation. It allows selfishness 
to flourish in great luxuriance, while the church debt 
is made the apology for turning a deaf ear to every 
appeal for aid. The beneficence of the church de- 
creases until in Christian giving the congregation 
becomes virtually a cipher. These congregations 
often appear most patriotic upon the parade ground, 
but in the great contest for the right they are cow- 
ardly poltroons, living under a government which 
they will neither support nor defend. 

If the cause of home and foreign missions, the 
various benevolent operations of the church at large 
and the poor at home w r ere merely left to care for 
themselves while an honest effort was really made 



20 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



to liquidate the church debt, there would be some 
apparent weight to the worthless excuse. But the 
apology is a mere pretext ; they neither aid others, 
nor pay the debt ; congregations struggling honestly 
with burdensome indebtedness are truly worthy of 
our sympathy and aid. It is rare, however, that 
congregations willing to pay their bills are found in 
debt. The debt-burdened congregations are usually 
of those which desire to do all the building and have 
the " outsiders" do all the paying. Now the " out- 
siders ' are supporting the many institutions depend- 
ent upon them at an expense fifty-fold greater than 
it costs to sustain the church, and it is sheer injustice 
to leave them to do all the paying while the church 
stands idly by. The church is to give to save the 
world, and not the world to save the church. Let 
us not reverse the order, or lose sight of the specific 
purpose of the church. Her only work is to labor 
for the salvation of men, and no work in which she 
can engage, not even the building or paying for 
church edifices, can ever, in any degree, compensate 
for the neglect of this duty. The Savior's last com- 
mand is " Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
gospel to every creature," and we must obey it; 

A change in regard to dedicating churches before 
they are paid for would tend largely to correct this 
disastrous condition of affairs. Let ecclesiastical 
bodies set themselves right in the eyes of the world, 
and correct this great evil among the churches, by 
refusing to formally dedicate any and all churches 
not fully paid for. It is commendable for congrega- 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



21 



tions to build costly churches when they can pay 
for them without hindering their mission work, and 
the people who continually murmur because of the 
money lavished on temples built for the worship of 
God, would also have murmured, had they been with 
Jesus, because the alabaster box of ointment " very 
precious" was not sold for much and given to the 
poor ; so let their murmurs be weighed against their 
worth. But let the united voice of the church go up 
against this great evil. 

Congregations which are injudicious and visionary 
in their church plans are wont to regard their cher- 
ished purposes all consummated when the church is 
dedicated. Whether it is paid for or not seems for- 
eign to their minds. The question is simply one of 
whether mason, carpenter, painter and frescoer have 
completed their work Whether the congregation 
have accomplished their duty does not enter into the 
consideration. Whether God will be pleased with the 
unpaid for offering is not asked. If it is not an ac- 
ceptable offering, selfishness, personal pride and sec- 
tarian vanity must be gratified, and so " ministers of 
God, old and young, the elders and the people, all 
assemble. A sermon is preached, the liberality of the 
people is commended ; the beauty of the house is 
praised, great castles are built about prospective good, 
and perhaps that very house, it is predicted, will be 
a grand means of hastening on the millennial day : 
songs of praises are sung, God's name is invoked, and 
the house is most solemnly given to God," and one 
man at least, " rejoices with trembling " — he is the man 



22 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



who holds the mortgage ! Is it not absolutely ridicu- 
lous for any person, or persons, to set apart, dedicate 
or consecrate to the worship of God that which they 
do not own ? 

The principle which makes cheating or stealing dis- 
honest is, that we seek to enrich ourselves at the ex- 
pense of others, and God will not accept at the hands 
of any that which is made the means of defrauding 
and impoverishing another. If a number of persons 
with misguided zeal were to gather about a private 
residence, not their own, and by imposing ceremo- 
nies offer it to God, setting it apart for sacred pur- 
poses, no one would for a moment suppose that God 
would accept the gift or bless the givers. The 
thought of an organization of enlightened, intelligent 
people, with public parade and imposing ceremonies, 
setting apart to the worship of God a building which 
they have not paid for, and do not own, strikes the 
ordinary mind as ridiculous, if not sacrilegious or 
profane. To those who will persist in this irreligious 
or wicked course, we would recommend that to the 
other sins they no longer add that of attempting to 
deceive God. 

Be frank, tell God and the community just how the 
matter stands, and upon what conditions it is given. 
Such congregations will need a new formula of dedi- 
cation, and for their use we might suggest the follow- 
ing, recommended by Dr. J. G. Holland, and which 
may be slightly changed to suit the circumstances : 
" We dedicate this edifice to Thee, our Lord and 
Master ; we give it to Thee and Thy cause and king- 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES, 



23 



dorru subject to a mortgage of one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars (8150,000). We bequeath it to our 
children and our children's children, as the greatest 
boon we can confer on them (subject to the mort- 
gage aforesaid;, and we trust that they will have the 
grace and the money to pay the interest and lift the 
mortgage. Preserve it from fire and foreclosure, we 
pray Thee, and make it abundantly useful to Thyself 
— subject, of course, to the aforesaid mortgage." 



24 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



CHAPTER III. 

HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 
HERE are many ways by which churches get 



in debt. Some of the more common may, 
we trust, be considered with profit. Let us, then, 
traverse the field and mark the places of danger, 
that others passing the same way may take warning 
lest they fall into the same mistake, and come to the 
same sad end. 

I. One class of churches becomes involved in debt 
on account of the injudicious expenditures of the 
church officers, or financial agents of the church. 

When the financial interests of a church are com- 
mitted to the control of chosen men, it becomes 
their duty to inform themselves as to the financial 
ability of the congregation, and, in all cases, this is 
to be the bounds beyond which they may not pass. 
They are intrusted with the duty of judiciously ap- 
plying the means really at hand, and not under any 
consideration to invest the anticipated resources of 
the church — resources which should be expended 
no sooner than a prudent laborer would invest his 
money before he has earned it, and consequently 
not his at all. Not only is it unbusinesslike, but 
when prompted by improper motives, it becomes 
disgraceful and even dishonest, and especially is this 
so when the income is not to fall due during their 




HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 25 



tenure of office. They apply that which is not theirs 
to apply, and leave their successors to struggle with 
difficulties and debts previously created, and by them 
inherited. The financial wardens of the church, be- 
ing often unduly in a hurry, worried and burdened 
with their own affairs, and becoming neglectful of 
the best interests of the church, purchases are often 
made when the treasury will not warrant. These 
become very poor investments for the church, sim- 
ply because sufficient time was not allowed for the 
selection, nor due regard given to the price. In 
short, men who are business-like and judicious in 
the transaction of their own affairs, often become 
very injudicious and unbusiness-like in the transac- 
tion of the affairs of the church. 

II. But perhaps a more frequent cause of church 
indebtedness arises from an entirely different source. 

To secure harmony of action it is sometimes ren- 
dered necessary to call a church or congregational 
meeting to consider the propriety of certain causes 
of action. In these, as in all public assemblages, 
there are usually those who will volunteer to do all 
the talking and none of the thinking, and the result 
too frequently is, that promiscuous gatherings are 
led to vote burdens upon the financial guardians of 
the church, and then go home never to give the mat- 
ter any pecuniary aid or wise counsel. In almost all 
cases where such assemblages are called, it should be 
simply to take action upon plans previously wrought 
out by careful deliberation and continuous study. 
It is said " to invent, begin to think, and then keep 



26 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



on thinking/' Thinking must precede talking, or if 
the congregation at large is left to invent plans, and 
devise ways and means, the greater probabilities are 
that their half-fledged ideas, when put to the test, 
if they should flap and flutter about for a time, 
will finally come to the ground in embarrassing con- 
fusion. 

The custom of laying every matter of minor im- 
port before the congregation is fraught with much 
danger. When matters of great importance are to 
be acted upon, it will often serve as an excellent 
means of awakening, in the minds of the people, an 
interest upon the subject, and help them to place 
confidence in measures which they are permitted 
fully to understand, and for the carrying into effect 
of which they are expected to contribute of their 
means, or lend their aid. 

In order to succeed in some congregations such a 
course is absolutely necessary, for some men of 
prudence and sagacity must understand a project 
thoroughly or they will not give it their aid. This 
is right and proper. But it is dangerous and detri- 
mental to any church to submit to the congregation 
every matter of trifling moment. It simply a!ffords 
an opportunity for diversities of opinion, which 
finally beget factions and dismember congregations, 
for some men will never recant when once publicly 
they have expressed or advocated an opinion. It is 
well to take wise counsel, but no general assembles 
his soldiers to give advice at a council of war, for it 
would only be productive of diversity and confusion. 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



27 



If the church officers are elected for any thing it is 
to act and bear the responsibility in all minor matters. 
If the congregation has no respect for their opinion, 
or confidence in their judgment, they should not 
have elected them to these responsibilities, or if done 
unadvisedly, the error had better be corrected by 
allowing such officers to give place to others better 
qualified; for, in church, as in state, some one must 
be intrusted with the responsibility of leadership. 
A poor general is better than none at all, at least 
when the choice lies between these tw r o evils. 

III. Another way by which churches become em- 
barrassed with large debts is by the accumulation 
of smaller and more trifling ones. 

Under no circumstances should a congregation 
allow these small arrearages to accumulate, and des- 
poil the church of its honor and usefulness. Never 
let a church live beyond its income. Yet it should 
not be forgotten that some people are ever harping 
on the one string of cutting down expenses, while 
they only prove their motive to be penurious and 
selfish, by being unfavorable and even hostile to any 
and every reasonable attempt to increase the income 
of the church to meet its pressing needs. Some men 
spend more time and die meaner, trying to get their 
wants down to suit their income, than others do try- 
ing to get their income up to meet their wants. 
Every church should do as much as is in its power, 
but not outrun its ability to close up all accounts at 
the end of each year. 

There are many successful and prosperous churches 



28 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



which owe much of their usefulness to the fact that 
they allow no arrearages from year to year. In some 
churches, however, where this policy is pursued they 
fall into an error almost equally fatal. In all the 
various denominations there are few churches which 
permit or cause this burden of furnishing the money 
needed for the annual settlements to fall upon the 
wardens or officers. The result of this course is 
evident. This financial burden, oft repeated, and 
superadded to a disinterested spirit upon the part 
of the congregation, finally becomes so grievously 
heavy that judicious and competent officers, taxed 
and censured beyond endurance, eventually retire to 
let the interests of the church fall into the hands of 
others less competent. It is a process by which 
many congregations accomplish the old adage of 
" riding a free horse to death/' 

The policy of another class of over-prudent offi- 
cers is to assume the unprovided-for debts without 
submitting them to the congregation for payment. 
This course, although slower, accomplishes the dis- 
astrous result nevertheless surely. The congrega- 
tion grows into an indifference concerning the affairs 
of the church, caring little or nothing whether the 
amounts paid annually by the officers be much or 
little. Gradually the benevolence of the individual 
members becomes so dwarfed by the injudicious 
liberality of the officers, that when death, removal 
or loss of property throws the church upon the re- 
sources of its members, it at once becomes evident 
that the congregation has lost the grace of giving. 



HCW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



2 9 



Officers should give to the support of the church, but 
should not be allowed to do all the giving any more 
than all the praying, singing, or other worship. 

IV. Another class of church debts find their origin 
in the undue and unnecessary extravagance displayed 
in the erection of some churches. 

What we mean by extravagance is that expendi- 
ture, which whether necessary or unnecessary, creates 
obligations beyond the possibility of the congrega- 
tion to pay. What is extravagance to one congre- 
gation may be parsimony and meanness for another, 
and likewise that undue withholding from the Lord 
which renders some congregations parsimonious and 
mean would entitle others to respect for their econ- 
omy and prudence. We are not in sympathy with 
those who are unwilling to render to God the richest 
treasures of architecture and beauty; the treasures 
of the nation were made tributary to the building of 
a temple where should dwell the radiant presence of 
Jehovah. Forty-eight thousand tons of gold and 
silver, with sparkling gems and jeweled stones, 
wrought and polished by men of greatest skill, were 
required in the construction of the building of which 
God was the architect. 

A cheap church in a rich community is an open 
and public proof of the poverty of religious senti- 
ment and Christian life. In beauty, cost and com- 
fort God's house should be superior in each commu- 
nity to the dwellings of men. God demanded that 
the offerings made to him should be without spot 
and without blemish — they were to be the best. 



30 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



The richest and most costly church that any con- 
gregation can build without incurring debt will tend 
to beget charity and foster piety, rather than to 
stimulate vanity and pride. There are those always 
deprecating any considerable expenditure in church 
building, who plead the necessities of the poor and 
the requirements of missions ; and it is only to be 
regretted that while these persons contribute but 
little for churches, they give less for either home or 
foreign missions. The feeling which they feign is a 
mere pretext, an excuse for not giving. 

But while all churches should be models of beauty 
and richness in the communities in which they are 
located, they should yet not be so far in advance as 
to render the cost beyond the ability of the congre- 
gation to pay. A church edifice is simply a means to 
an end, and that end is the salvation of souls, and 
the saving of men. Where this object is lost sight 
of, the church edifice may be, and often is, made a 
great impediment to spiritual growth and religious 
life. When the minds of the pastor and the church 
officials are perplexed and burdened with financial 
embarrassments, and their best energies exhausted 
to meet accruing obligations, but little strength is 
left for the performance of other duties which are the 
heart and spirit of the Christian church. Many a 
minister becomes a mere financial agent, being de- 
spoiled of usefulness because of perplexing church 
debts, entailed upon him and his successors by some 
visionary enthusiasts. 

V. Some church debts find their origin in the fact 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



31 



that often those whose occupation and experience 
qualify them to act on the building committee, plead 
the pressure of business, and are unwilling to assume 
the responsibilities of the position. As a result, the 
work is committed into the hands of those less com- 
petent, and not infrequently is the minister, already 
overburdened with the labors of his pulpit and the 
duties of his pastorate, compelled to accept the bur- 
den, or consent to see the project fail. He is com- 
pelled to serve until the work is complete, and then 
almost universally to be pressed into service as a 
scape-goat for the sins of the committee, or the con- 
gregation, while another is called to stand in the tem- 
ple he has erected.* 

Now, we would not say one word against those 
whom, as a class, we regard as among the most schol- 
arly, self-sacrificing and devout in our land. Nor do 
we speak but to their praise, w T hen w T e say, that the 
very character of their calling and study tends to 
make them less proficient as business men. True, 
the ministry can produce some men as competent to 
supervise vast enterprises, and control large interests 
as are to be found in any other of the walks of life. 
These, however, are of those who possess a natural 
business turn, or have received a thorough business 
education before entering the ministry. To their 
abilities as preachers, they unite the desirable quali- 
fications of good financiers and excellent managers. 
There are some such in the ministry but they are not 



* And no one knows this truth better than myself after twenty- 
eight years' experience. J. W, S. 



32 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



in the majority. Most ministers are altogether with- 
out any considerable experience in commercial life, 
and for want of that knowledge which comes from 
practice and experience, would be but poorly quali- 
fied to engage in any financial or commercial enter- 
prise for themselves, and, as a matter of course, are 
but poorly qualified to superintend similar interests 
for a congregation, composed of men skilled in 
various departments of trade and commerce/ 

However desirable it might be to make a commit- 
teeman of the minister, because of his knowledge of 
the requirements of a church building, its acoustic pro- 
portions, architecture, etc. — of his fund learning, and 
knowledge of other church edifices, and of his inter- 
ested, and perhaps more unbiased judgment than 
any other man in the congregation, yet he can only 
occasionally be selected on account of his business 
tact or financial ability. Most ministers will render 
more useful and efficient service as a balance wheel 
to the committee, rather than as a driving wheel for 
the congregation. 

The men intrusted with the superintendence of a 
new enterprise should be of those who, of all the 
congregation, are best qualified by knowledge and 
experience, and for no personal considerations, either 
of business or pleasure, should they regard it possi- 
ble for them to escape the reasonable and moral 
obligations they are under to accept the responsi 

* Where one is found with this gift of God, and this experience, 
he should be set aside by the church for that particular purpose, 
for they are rare. J. W. S. 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



33 



bilities of the position. If they have talents fitting 
them for the work, God will demand why these tal- 
ents have not been exercised, as well in the church 
as in the world. Ordinarily a church will last for 
more than a generation, and but few men are ever 
upon a building committee a second time. Each 
committee enters upon a work with which they are 
entirely unacquainted. While judicious, and per- 
haps men well chosen, they may never before have 
erected a building of any kind, and concerning the 
character and cost of material needed in constructing 
a church, know almost absolutely nothing, because 
their attention has never been called to that subject. 
If they were called upon to build a second church ? 
after the experience they have had in building the 
first, they would be able to do it both better and 
cheaper. 

It is most necessary, therefore, for each commit- 
tee to avail themselves of the experience of others. 
Churches similar in size and construction to the one 
to be erected should be examined, and useful lessons 
learned from the excellencies and defects of others. 
Inefficiency or incompetency in the committee is 
without excuse, so long as any source of information 
remains unexplored and unimproved. 

VI. Not unfrequently do congregations involve 
themselves in unnecessary debt by hastily accepting 
a plan or draft for a church edifice, which has no 
adaptation to their wants and necessities. The work 
is begun, and when the immature ideas take shape 
in brick and mortar, it is found necessary continu- 



34 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



ally to modify the plan and make alterations in the 
construction of the building. These changes, if made 
before the final adoption of the plan, would be at- 
tended with no expense, but when made after the 
work is begun, they are attended with unnecessary 
expense to the congregation, injury to the propor- 
tions of the edifice and the durability of the struc- 
ture. Such changes, always expensive, should be 
guarded against with the greatest care. Such a de- 
fective plan is illustrated in the Grand Central depot 
in New York city. All the departing trains start on 
the western track, and have to cross the tracks of 
the arriving trains to get on the eastern track, that 
they may " keep to the right, as the law directs." 
So, also, must all arriving trains cross the track of 
the departing trains, in order to reach that part of 
the depot which by mistake the architect placed on 
the wrong side of the building. The sides of that 
grand building should have been reversed. A some- 
what similar mistake in the plan was discovered too 
late for alteration in a depot in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Similar illustrations are found in churches. 

VII. The cause of the indebtedness of many 
churches may be traced to a national characteristic 
of the American people. We are a nation of hur- 
riers. Our haste would be becoming to those hav- 
ing the whole world before them, rather than to 
those most westward in the course of empire. The 
pulse beats quick, and as a nation we are at fever 
heat. We walk fast, talk fast, eat fast, borrow much 
and get in debt fast. When we build a church the 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



35 



work must be carried forward like every thing else — 
in a hurry. Instead of awaiting those seasons of the 
year when the price of material is lowest and labor 
cheapest, frequently with but little regard to the 
expense, the work is hurried to completion. We 
too often begin with the unfounded assumption that 
necessity requires the edifice to be completed by a 
fixed day, not far distant, and if the money is not 
at hand the best interests of the church are sacrificed 
to attain this end. The church is built not only 
faster than it can be paid for, but with an extrava- 
gance both unwarranted and unnecessary. 

Why be in unnecessary and expensive haste? 
Solomon's Temple was seven and a half years in 
building. The cathedral of St. Peter's at Rome was 
one hundred and seventy-five years in building, that 
is, from the laying of the foundation to the date of 
dedication. If we include the w r ork done under 
Pius VI, then three and a half centuries passed 
away, during which time forty-three popes reigned 
and died. The cathedral at Milan was begun in 
1386, and was not completed until a grand impulse 
was given to the work during the conquests of 
Napoleon I. St. Paul's in London was only thirty- 
six years in building. The noted Cologne cathedral 
was begun in 1248. The work in the interior is in- 
complete, and the scaffolding for the erection of the 
tower is but little higher than the ridge of the im- 
mense roof. Although of more than ordinary pro- 
portions, these buildings could readily have been 
completed in a much less period. It was not for 



36 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



want of men or material. With the exception of 
the first it was for want of money to complete with- 
out the creation of immense indebtedness. Progress 
and finances kept step. 

The plan of building and paying for a chapel, ynd 
then, as circumstances permit and necessity requires, 
beginning the work upon the church edifice proper, 
and carrying the work forward gradually and pru- 
dently, proves both satisfactory and commendable. 
In cases where the draft includes the large audience- 
room, and lecture and Sunday-school room, under 
the same roof, one may be completed and made to 
serve the purposes of both, until the necessary money 
to finish the edifice is fully secured. When the plan 
calls for a spire, this also may often be left in a rudi- 
mentary condition, until the church is paid for, and 
the means are at hand to complete the plan. This 
method does not unfurl as many banners, nor set the 
project before the people with as much tinsel. It 
will not attract a certain unsettled and unstable class 
as readily as some other course. But be assured 
that the better and more serviceable class, who 
would avoid any church adopting a less prudent 
course, may, and often are attracted to a new enter- 
prise or growing society by its evident elements of 
sound financial policy. 

The congregation which, with timid prudence, 
have involved themselves in greater debt, solely be- 
cause of their snail-like progress, are so rarely met 
that they do not form a separate class, and if those 
who entertain this opinion will take the trouble care- 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



37 



fully to investigate, they will find their conclusion in 
this matter based upon u insufficient reason." 

VII. The indebtedness of some congregations is 
materially increased because they lack some one to 
go ahead, who shall feel an abiding personal interest 
in the prosperity of the church. 

Churches, State buildings, railroads, public works, 
and improvements of various kinds are seldom built 
as cheaply as when carried forward as a private en- 
terprise. When exceptions to the rule are found, it 
is where some individual has made the interests of 
the congregation, State or corporation identical with 
his own interests, laboring as faithfully for others as 
he would have done for himself. A building com- 
mittee may, and frequently does, act so as to secure 
the best interests of the congregation, but occasion- 
ally they act as though they were intrusted with the 
special duty of creating bills, which the congregation 
was intrusted with the special duty of paying. 

Some may object to having one act as though 
building, or financiering for himself, because in nu- 
merous instances this has proven unsatisfactory to 
the congregation. We reply, that where a commit- 
tee or committee-man has grace enough to receive 
counsel, and good judgment enough to decide which 
is the better reason, and religion enough to render 
his interests identical with that of the congregation, 
there is no reason to question but that it will be by 
far better to have one select and purchase, as if for 
himself, than to have many, or all, purchase 3 as if for 
others to pay. 



38 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



An illustration or two will set forth what we have 
sought to say in the .two foregoing points. The 
citizens of a village about five miles from Albany, 
N. Y., determined to build a Methodist church. 
One of the prominent citizens, after whom the vil- 
lage is named, was on the committee appointed to 
supervise the entire work. During the winter, when 
there was little or no demand for building materia^ 
and when dealers were glad to sell at low rates, for 
casli, Mr. S. went to Albany and purchased the brick 
required for the church, purchasing and paying for 
them as though he had been purchasing them for 
himself. The residents of the village and persons 
living near, having teams, were notified and re- 
quested, when opportunity permitted, to draw the 
brick for the new church. In this way, notwith- 
standing the railroad conveniences, the brick were 
drawn during the winter without a dollar's cost to 
the congregation. The stones for the foundation 
were drawn in the same way, and all the other 
needed material being purchased at as reasonable 
rates as possible. The work was begun and carried 
forward in those seasons of the year when the best 
laborers could be secured at least wages. The church 
was some two years in process of erection. 

When any one complained because the work was 
not hurried forward, it was suggested that money 
would do the work, and as fast as it was at hand it 
would be. applied. All were allowed time to pay 
their subscriptions, and many a second subscription. 
The result was, that when the church was complete, 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



39 



it was paid for. It is a fine brick church, having a 
seating capacity of about three hundred and fifty, 
with a Sunday-school room, class-rooms, etc., at the 
rear, furnished and all completed at a cost of a frac- 
tion less than $10,000, and that at a time when the 
cost of material and labor was at its height after 
the war. 

A few years later the same congregation built a 
brick parsonage, with stone trimming, presenting an 
attractive appearance, being of good size, and hav- 
ing all the conveniences of the most comfortable 
dwelling in the village. Mr. S. also superintended 
this building, and completed it at a cost of $1,900. 

The Lutheran church at Shrewsberry, Pa., is a 
monument of neatness, beauty and cheapness. Built 
of brick, and having all the improvements and com- 
forts of larger churches, and with a seating capacity 
of four hundred, it was completed at a cost of about 
§12,000, when the cost of material and labor was 
much higher than at the present time. 

The Lutheran church at Louisville, Ky., is another 
example, and others might be mentioned, but these 
suffice to show the result of continual personal super- 
vision. 

IX. If one source of church debt is more disheart 
ening than another, it is doubtless that which arises 
from the disinterestedness of an entire community, 
or the stinginess of the individual members of a 
congregation. 

Taking the reports of the various denominations 
of Christians, noting the amounts contributed for 



40 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



the various benevolences, we discover at once a 
great diversity existing between different sections 
of the country. The difference is as marked as the 
character of the soil. Nor are those who inherit the 
annual legacies of the richer soil always the more 
liberal. This diversity is found not alone in the 
States, as compared with each other, but in various 
States there are places where sordid penuriousness 
and stinginess are proverbial, affecting all denomina- 
tions alike. But occasionally the ravages of this 
dreadful distemper are confined to one or more con- 
gregations. 

It is not necessary, however, to enter into any pro 
tracted or minute description of a feature so well 
known and readily recognized everywhere. We can- 
not name the difficulty and leave the subject with- 
out making a few practical suggestions. 

This disease is chronic and obstinate in its char- 
acter, and immediate relief can scarce be expected. 
Sordid, stingy people will cling to their stinginess as 
their rarest treasure. 

(a) The first remedy we would suggest is, to place 
a church paper in every family, whether members of 
the church or not. It should be a paper setting 
forth the interests of the denomination with which 
the family worships. While a religious paper of 
some other denomination may be good, it will not 
render half the service that the organ of one's own 
church would. Rev. B. B. Collins, missionary of the 
Lutheran church in India, while collecting funds in 
this country for missionary purposes, informed us 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



41 



that he found it almost universally true that those 
families which read the church papers were better 
informed, and contributed more liberally, while those 
who did not read the church papers usually gave 
little or nothing for mission purposes. And every 
pastor will have observed the same thing in his own 
congregation. 

A church paper will liberalize the minds of its 
readers in many ways ; helping them to know what 
other congregations are doing, and how they do it ; 
what is expected of church members, and a host of 
things which the minister could not mention with- 
out giving offense. 

A good church paper is a great power, and any 
minister who fails to use it among his people is neg- 
lecting one of the great instruments for good. A 
church paper is the greatest auxiliary and helper 
which a minister can have in his work. 

(b) Never preach a " begging sermon/' Do not 
let the people think that God is a beggar, supplicat- 
ing aid. He is the bountiful giver of all good and 
not a beggar. Let giving be set before the people 
as a means of grace, a Christian duty, a privilege. 
Rather demand it than beg for it. But better still, 
do neither of these. Keep continually before the 
minds of the people the various wants of the church. 
Never be scared out of your duty in this or any 
other respect. Show the people how God regards 
the covetous when He classes them with the unright- 
eous, saying: u Be not deceived ; neither fornicators, 
nor idolators, nor adulterers, effeminate, nor abusers 



4 2 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covet- 
ous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, 
shall inherit the kingdom of God." Covetousness 
is a mean, filthy crime in the sight of God. 

(c) You cannot hope to accomplish any great results 
with the generation already having fixed habits. But 
one source of great power in remedying this whole 
matter will be found in beginning with the young. 
Teach them to contribute in the Sunday school. 
Not to come with "the niggardly cent/' but with 
dimes and quarter dollars and larger amounts. Teach 
them to contribute regularly, continually, systematic- 
ally, religiously. The parents in their stinginess 
may find fault, and talk loudly about a free salvation 
and all that sort of thing, but never listen to their 
complaints. Do your duty with the rising genera- 
tion, building right habits upon right principles, and 
the result shall abide, whether you shall remain to 
see it or another shall come to reap the results of 
your sowing and toil. 

X. Some congregations may attribute their grow- 
ing church debt and diminishing congregations to 
their own injudicious management and frequent 
change of pastors. 

What we have to say on this point has already 
been ably expressed by Mr. Spurgeon, in an address 
delivered in the Music Hall in Edinburgh, in which 
he gives a very good piece of advice to those who 
mourn over empty and declining congregations. It 
is worth trying : 

"Sometimes, as the president of a college, I have 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 43 



letters sent to me asking for ministers, in something 
like these terms: ( Dear Sir — Our chapel is very 
empty ; our last minister was a very excellent man, 
but an unpopular preacher (I may say, by way of 
parenthesis, that I suppose he was one of those men 
that would make good martyrs — so dry that they 
would burn well), and our congregation is very small. 
Can you kindly send us a minister who will fill the 
chapel ? ' On one occasion I replied that I had not 
a minister large enough to fill a chapel. Of course 
there came an explanation that they did not expect 
him to corporeally fill it, but to fill it by bringing 
others to listen to him, and retaining them as seat- 
holders. Then I wrote, and to gain this opportunity 
my first joke was perpetrated, reminding the friends 
that it was quite enough for a pastor to fill the pul- 
pit well, and that the filling of the pews depended 
upon the zeal, the earnestness and the diligence of 
those with whom he commenced his ministry ; if they 
would support him by their earnest co-operation, the 
meeting-house would soon be full. I remember when 
1 first came to London, preaching to eighty or ninety 
in a large chapel, but my little congregation thought 
well of me, and induced others to come and fill the 
place. I always impute my early success to my 
warm-hearted people, for they were so earnest and 
enthusiastic in their loving appreciation of ' the young 
man from the country,' that they were never tired of 
sounding his praises. If you, any of you, are mourn- 
ing over empty pews in your place of worship, I 
would advise you to praise up your minister. There 



44 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



can be no difficulty in discovering some points in 
which your pastor excels ; dwell upon these excel- 
lences, and not upon his failures ; talk of the benefit 
which you derive from his sermons, and thus you 
will induce the people to come and listen to him, and 
at the same time you will do him good, for the full 
house will warm him up and make him a better 
preacher, and you yourself will enjoy him the more, 
because you have thought and spoken kindly of him. 
Believe, then, that the filling up of a church is not 
alone the pastor's work. Remember the word ' uni- 
versality/ and let no one try to find a loop-hole to 
escape his duty. All Christians ought to be doing 
something for Jesus, and to be always doing some- 
thing." 

XI. Unpaid subscriptions are the cause of some 
church debts. 

Not unfrequently is it the case, that after subscrip- 
tions are made they are forgotten, or the payment 
neglected. In these cases blame attaches itself, ac- 
cording to circumstances, sometimes to the person 
subscribing, at other times to the collector, or it may 
be to the person securing the subscriptions. Con- 
cerning the collections no universal rule can be laid 
down. Some congregations are composed of men 
who wait the presentation of a bill, while others may 
be composed of men who so seldom have a bill pre- 
sented, that when one is presented they will take of 
fense. But in either case, when due public notice 
has been given, and subscriptions remain unpaid, it 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



45 



is the collector's duty to call upon the parties and 
request the payment of the same. 

But there are cases, also, where congregations 
become embarrassed because certain subscriptions 
for large amounts are repudiated. A certain con- 
gregation in a large city was induced by a subscrip- 
tion of 85,000, made by the wife of a wealthy mer- 
chant in the name of her husband, to incur a large 
debt. The husband was absent from home at the 
time, but in consideration of this subscription, gen- 
erous plans were devised and work begun. When 
the husband returned, he refused to pay the sub- 
scription. This was the beginning of reverses, which 
almost crushed the congregation with an overpower- 
ing debt. There are numerous other cases where 
subscriptions are made, which, had the parties lived, 
would have been duly paid. Alienation from the 
church, loss of property, sickness and death render 
worthless many subscriptions otherwise good. The 
safest plan is not to begin the work until a warrant- 
able amount of money is already raised.* 

XII. Some churches become involved in debt by 
allowing the success of the entire enterprise to rest 
upon the large liberality of a single individual. Ex- 
tensive plans and large engagements are entered into, 
such as the congregation is wholly unable to provide 
for. Every thing may move along prosperously, so 
long as the great supporter of the entire enterprise 
completes his purpose ; but in some evil hour he 



35 Although this cannot always be done. J. W. S. 



46 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



may meet with financial reverses, and be unable to 
carry out his cherished plans. " In all such cases the 
expense should be paid at once, or be provided for 
in a legal manner, so that if the party or parties 
concerned should die, change their location, lose their 
property, or become alienated from the church, the 
debt may not fall on the masses who would never 
have contracted it, and are unabie to pay or carry it. 
Our first experience in paying church debts fully 
justifies this suggestion. The debt was incurred by 
one good rich man, who controlled in every thing 
and intended to pay it, but was suddenly stricken 
down by death, leaving no provision in his will or 
otherwise for doing so. His heirs, being opposed to 
the Methodists, would do nothing. The result was, 
the debt fell upon a poor society, which straggled 
under it for many years, expecting to be sold out. 
Deliverance, however, came at last, but not until 
several preachers had suffered for want of bread, and 
Methodism had been sadly dishonored. 

"This remark is equally applicable to other be- 
nevolent enterprises. Gentlemen have liberally pro- 
posed to give large sums toward the establishment 
or endowment of a college or school, and thereby 
drawn others into the movement ; but, failing to pay 
the amount or give proper security, the whole has 
been lost, to the damage, if not to the utter defeat, 
of the enterprise. Those who are kind enough to 
promise such indispensable sums should secure them 
as fully as they would any just debt for the same 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



47 



amount, otherwise their proposed liberality may 
prove to be a curse rather than a blessing." f 

In fact, large-hearted liberality should be united 
with great judiciousness, or in many ways it may de- 
feat the worthy motive of its honored projector. 

The late Gerrit Smith was one of the most gener- 
ous men in this country. He gave right and left to 
almost every one that came, with little inquiry or 
discrimination. No doubt his charities relieved a 
great deal of suffering, and did a great deal of good, 
but the good was not unmixed with evil. Perhaps 
there never was a more signal illustration of the ill- 
effects of indiscriminate giving of money. His biog- 
rapher says that his prodigal liberality " ruined his 
beloved Peterboro by excessive indulgence, in doing 
so much for the villagers, that they became quite in- 
capable of doing any thing for themselves. His gen- 
erosity dried up the sources of public spirit and made 
men positively sordid. He proposed to build and 
endow a library there, and the owners of desirable 
land sites were, all at once, misers, who held the 
ground at prices so exorbitant that the scheme was 
abandoned. He opened a free reading-room, and 
the thirst for information, being anticipated, was dis- 
couraged. He offered to erect a fountain on the 
common, and the jealousy of the residents, each of 
whom w T anted it in front of his own house, caused a 
bitterness which the waters of Bethesda could not 
cure. He presented a town-clock to the authorities, 



:: Rev. James Porter, D. D., in a very excellent book for Meth- 
odists, entitled " Helps to Official Members." 



4 8 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



and they grew at once so parsimonious that he was 
requested to provide a man to wind it up. The 
common railing was dilapidated, and remained so, be- 
cause he did not choose to repair it at his own ex- 
pense. The brood of parasites increased on this 
branching oak; tramps, swindlers, and cheats multi- 
plied ; liars sprang up like weeds ; beggars infested 
the country. His bounty would in many cases, if 
not in most, have been more wisely bestowed on the 
devouring sea, which it could not poison, or buried 
in the ground, where it could lie forever hid." 

XIII. Unscriptual motives lead many congrega- 
tions into situations of great financial embarrassment. 
Too many churches are built because Mr. Self will 
fall out with the minister, alienates an unstable or 
impulsive few, and then goes to establish " a church 
of his own." The question is not how can the 
church be made most successful in accomplishing 
God's great purpose in the redemption of the world, 
but how can it be made to subserve myself, gratify 
my selfish ends, and bring honor to my family ? 
Pride, caste, covetousness, self-glory and other un- 
holy motives are allowed too prominent and ruinous 
a place. 

There is also too frequent manifestation of a desire 
to build a church that will be " an honor to the 
place," " an ornament to the city," rather than an 
honor to God. Too many churches are erected to 
improve the value of adjacent property, for which 
some have ever been stigmatized as the " Church of 
the Holy Speculation." Too many are built for 



HOW CHURCHES GET IN DEBT. 



49 



purely sectarian purposes in localities which could 
not support the churches already struggling for exist- 
ence — these, and many other unscriptural ends are 
too frequently the controlling motives. 

Conclusion. 

Other means of getting churches into debt might 
be named : 

(a) Such as the delusive idea that a church debt 
is beneficial in binding the congregation together, or 
giving them something to work for. 

(d) Contracting with parties who are not respon- 
sible, and who may fail in carrying the structure to 
completion, or loading the edifice with builders' liens, 
or otherwise embarrass the congregation. 

(c) Tempting the congregation to build beyond 
their means by much eloquent talk about getting 
help from the " Church Extension Society," or c< from 
abroad." This is "like the statesman's promise or 
the harlot's tears — full of fair seeming, but decep- 
tion all." 

id) By letting " Mr. Highspire, the eminent archi- 
tect," devise generous plans for spending other peo- 
ple's money, and advertising his own business. 

We have sought only to designate the more prev- 
alent sources of this annoying evil. May the church 
of God be so aroused to realize the enormity of the 
crime of running in debt, that the free-will offerings 
of the people shall be so abundant as in the days 
when the tabernacle was erected in the wilderness, 
and the workmen came to Moses, saying: " The 



5o 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



people bring much more than enough for the service 
of the work which the Lord commanded to make. 
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it 
to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying : Let 
neither man nor woman make any more work for the 
offering of the sanctuary. So the people were re- 
strained from bringing." (Ex. xxxvi, 5, 6.) 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. M. 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID 5 1 



CHAPTER IV. 



ALL CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID, AND THERE 
IS A WAY TO DO IT, 

INHERE are plenty of people, members of the 



Christian church, who could any day pay off 
the debts which curse the church and impede its pro- 
gress, and not lose a single meal, or deprive them- 
selves of a single comfort. There is no lack of ability, 
but a lack of desire and even of willingness to per- 
form a clear and unmistakable duty. How shall this 
difficulty be overcome? 



Let the scriptural duty of making ample provision 
for God's house be fully set forth from the pulpit. 
Don't beg ; don't scold. Preach the whole counsel 
of God, not evading the ordained law of the giving of 
the tithe, a law which was not made for the Jew, but 
was enjoined about two thousand years before Abra- 
ham was born ; a law that is as old as the institution 
of sacrifice, as old as the institution of the Sabbath, 
and as universal as the human race ; a law which 
could as justly be called heathen as Jewish, for its 
binding force is recognized to-day in every heathen 
country, and it stands out unmistakably as one of 
the land-marks which lead the nations back to a 
common origin and a divine revelation ; a law which, 




PREACHING ON THE SUBJECT. 



52 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



be it said to our shame, is observed in every heathen 
nation, and is violated only by those who call them- 
selves Christians. 

We say, then, preach upon this subject. Let the 
scriptural view of God as the great proprietor, and 
man as the steward, be faithfully set forth. Let 
human responsibility and accountability be faith- 
fully enjoined, not simply in the use of intellectual 
culture and power, but in the use of material wealth. 
In the parable of the talents it was property, MONEY 
which was intrusted, and for which each had to give 
an account. There is no escaping from the truth 
presented in this scripture. 

Men are enjoined to give at least a tenth for the 
support and spread of the gospel.. One-tenth is the 
Lord's, and the remaining nine-tenths is His also, 
and we are simply to use it as his stewards. As we 
may not withhold the one-tenth, neither may wc 
squander the remainder in undue luxury and pride. 
Our wealth is to be sanctified wealth. 

Let pastors intrusted with congregations burdened 
with church debts present these truths, not only in 
an occasional discourse, but frequently. Let them 
familiarize themselves with this neglected doctrine, 
until it shall form as much a part of all their teach- 
ings as it forms a part of each book, and runs through 
every chapter of the Bible. Let pastor and people 
together confess their sin in this matter, and prove 
their sincerity by bringing their free-will offerings and 
paying their debt. Remember, the tithe is God's 
money, sacredly set apart for the support and spread 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



53 



of the gospel, so do not let people take God's money 
to pay their debt. Let the people s money pay the 
people s debt. Free-will offerings are what God re- 
quires for this purpose ; so let the rich give liberally 
from their abundance, and let the poor from the 
depths of their poverty enjoy the same blessed privi- 
lege. Let there be an enlightened and quickened 
conscience, and w r e know that the Christian men 
and women of this land will arise and cast off the 
burdens with which the church is now struggling to 
go forward. 

A WRONG POLICY. 

Many pastors pursue a ruinous policy. They think 
that all contributions for benevolent work at home, 
or the spread of the gospel abroad, should be merged 
into the fund for local support. The heathen must 
care for themselves, and every noble charity must be 
forsaken to make provision for current expenses, and 
to " get ready to pay the debt/' It is a great mis- 
take ! You might as well stop the throbbing of the 
heart in order to increase the strength of the physi- 
cal man. In stopping the benevolent contributions 
and work of the church, you will be killing every 
generous impulse, and destroying the very motives 
which should only be quickened and strengthened if 
the debt is ever paid at all. 

A certain congregation in a small village had a 
debt of nearly $25,000. The pastor advocated giv- 
ing to every worthy object which appealed for aid. 
In three years $19,000 of the great debt was can- 



54 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



celed, no worthy suppliant "was turned away empty, 
the church risen in the amount of its contributions 
for missions, and the various agencies of the church, 
until it occupied the second place in the synod with 
which it stood connected. The succeeding pastor, 
with a debt of $7,000, pursued a policy directly the 
reverse, and at the end of his second year had the 
effrontery to stand upon the floors of synod, and 
offer as an excuse for not having raised a single dol- 
lar for missions, nor any of the agencies of the church, 
" that he had told his people from the pulpit that 
they should contribute nothing for these objects, as 
they needed all their money at home to pay the 
debt." What was the result of such a policy? As 
might naturally be expected, the congregation had 
not paid current expenses, they had not paid a sin- 
gle dollar on the debt, nor had they even paid the 
interest of the debt. 

u We may learn a better wisdom from the example 
of one of the wisest pastors in New York city. 
When his church was being built, the question of 
establishing a mission school came before his people. 
After much debate, the pastor rose to speak on the 
subject. He detailed the account of their circum- 
stances, showed that they were building a costly 
church, that they had a heavy burden of debt com- 
ing upon them, and, in short, as much as they could 
bear. ' Therefore,' said he — and every person 
thought his conclusion was easy to see, supposing he 
would add at once — e therefore we cannot afford a 
mission school ; ' but his wisdom rose an octave above 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



55 



that common-place reasoning of men, and with an 
inspiration of the truth as to God's laws in the church, 
he added : ■ Therefore we cannot afford to be with- 
out a mission school.' The great church built to-day, 
the mission school established, and both prosperous, 
show the blessing on that deep insight into the facts 
of God's government in the world/' * 

pastor's part in the work. 

Every pastor of a debt-burdened people has often 
asked himself the question, what part shall I take in 
this work? Shall I carry the subscription, or shall I 
intrust it to a committee ? Is the minister to be like 
the general, w r ho in the day of battle, neglects the 
more responsible duties of commander for the sake 
of rendering service as a private ? Will not the pas- 
tor render more valuable service in the capacity of a 
supervisor, or director, making efficient the labors of 
many, rather than by enteiing the field as an indi 
vidual laborer? Is it not a wicked perversion of the 
ordinance of God to take ministers from the sacred 
work of their pulpits and pastorates to do the work 
of gathering, and ofttimes of begging funds from the 
very ones who should come of themselves and pay 
the debt which they have contracted and promised 
to pay? 

Are they not Christ's embassadors rather than the 
people's beggars ? Are they not sent to preach the 
everlasting gospel, to reclaim the lost, to perfect the 

* Rev. John Abbott French, in " Giving in Hard Times " 



56 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



saints, to edify the body of Christ ? And is it right 
that they should be turned from his High and holy 
work to that of circulating a subscription, or solicit- 
ing funds ? 

But there are other questions also which enter into 
the consideration. If there is no one else to carry 
the subscription and act the part of solicitor, shall 
the pastor refuse to perform the duty and allow the 
cause to fail ? Is not the minister as much responsible 
for the success of the financial as the spiritual inter- 
ests of the church ? If the ranks are breaking, and 
men are scattering, may not the situation require the 
commander to ride to the very front, and assuming 
the duties of the rank and file, become an inspiration 
to his host ? If the people have failed to discharge 
their duty to God, may it not be because their duty 
has not been fully and forcibly presented ? If the 
church has fallen into the pit, who could more appro- 
priately help it out than the minister? Was not 
Peter, when he went fishing to secure money to pay 
taxes, as truly and fully in Christ's service, as when 
he " lifted up his voice " on the day of Pentecost? 

These and many other questions present them- 
selves upon either side. Our own course has been, 
never to allow the cause to fail for want of some one 
to go ahead and do this arduous and unpleasant 
work. The question is a difficult one, and no definite 
rule can be prescribed. In earnest prayer, relying 
upon God to determine the question of duty, each 
one must seek divine direction. 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



57 



STOPPING THE EVIL. 

After the debt has been paid, " the first thing to 
be done," says Rev. William Ramsay, " is to prevent 
any further increase of the evil. If the churches 
which are now involved in debt should be relieved, 
and if nothing be done to stop this iniquitous sys- 
tem of building churches without paying for them, 
we shall make but slow progress in this work of 
reform. It certainly would not show much wisdom 
in the friends of temperance if they should spend 
all their energies in trying to reform drunkards, 
without aiming to prevent another generation of 
them from rising up to be a scourge and a curse to 
society. The young must be kept sober, or they 
will become drunkards. So it is with church debts. 
If we pay off the existing debts of the churches, and 
still countenance the sin of building new churches 
without paying for them, we shall soon have the 
same evil to mourn over that we now have. The 
practice must be resolutely frowned upon by every 
lover of the church of Christ. Let no church be 
erected through vain glory or party spirit, or to 
gratify the pride or feelings of a few. But let them 
be erected only when and where they are needed. 
And let them be paid for before ever a Christian 
minister shall, in the name of the people, stand up 
in their presence and dedicate to God that which 
they know does not belong to them. This evil may 
easily be prevented. It is in the power of the min- 
ister to do it at once. Let them resolve that they 
will not dedicate a church to God that is in debt. 



58 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



and that they will not destroy the comfort and peace 
of a brother, and hinder his usefulness, by placing 
him over a church that is in debt, and soon the evil 
complained of will be cured. If this were done, we 
should seldom hear of ministers leaving their people 
for want of a support. The members of the churches 
would then understand what they must do to have 
a minister of Christ placed over them ; and when 
they had him, they would be free to labor for the 
salvation of souls, without the continued annoyance 
of a debt. I might ask you now to look at the 
churches in this city, Philadelphia, and to tell me 
what it is which perplexes the minds of the officers 
of the churches? It is their debt. What breaks in 
upon the studies and pastoral duties of the settled 
pastors? The church debt. What turns off the 
minds of the elders and leading men of the church 
from the great work of saving souls ? It is their 
church debt. What is it that leads the people to 
lessen the salary of their ministers, or to fix it at 
the lowest possible rate, or to be always dilatory in 
paying their ministers, so that he is often pressed 
beyond measure for the mere necessities of life ? It 
is the church debt. What is it that brings down the 
curse of God upon the churches throughout our land ? 
It is the awful fact that they are robbing God of His 
due. Do you ask, wherein do they rob Him ? I an- 
swer 'in tithes and offerings.' It surely is not the 
time for those who call themselves the stewards of 
God to be dwelling in their ceiled houses, while the 
house of God remains unfinished or in debt. May 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



59 



the churches have grace to ' consider their ways/ and 
repent of the great evil, that the blessing of God may 
rest upon them ! " 

CHOICE OF PLAN. 

No one plan is equally well suited to meet the re- 
quirements of all parishes. 

Each pastor, or committee, must select such a one 
as comes nearest to meeting their wants, and then 
modify until all difficulties are overcome. In raising 
a debt j more will depend upon the plan used, and the 
prudence of the committee, than in securing money 
for a new enterprise. Yet it is well to add, that too 
much importance is not to be attached to the plan. 
A fixed method is necessary, and a good plan is 
much to be preferred to a poor one, yet no plan will 
of itself do the work, or pay the debt. A plan may 
be like a mechanical contrivance for applying power 
for the accomplishment of a desired result. It may 
be so rudely constructed, or be so deficient in many 
of its parts that there will be great loss of motive 
power ; or, it may be constructed with the greatest 
nicety of adjustment, and be deficient only in want- 
ing the power necessary to accomplish the desired re- 
sult. 

A poorly chosen plan may greatly hinder, or even 
defeat the efforts of the most judicious committee, 
and upon the other hand, a plan may be faultless, 
but be so poorly worked, that it would be impossible 
for it to produce any thing but failure. 

" The best mode of securing contributions is not 



6o 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



necessarily that which secures, in every instance, the 
largest contributions, but that which gives play to 
the grace of beneficence in the greatest number, and 
which secures cheerfulness and intelligent satisfaction 
in the act of donors. In the long run this method 
will also be found to secure the largest contribu- 
tions." 

One very desirable feature in any plan is, that it 
should render it easy for the people to see how the 
amount needed may easily be raised by united efforts. 
The plan should not only itself be simple, but should 
also simplify the payment of the debt. To its sim- 
plicity it should add efficiency. 

SUBSCRIPTION PLAN. 

Perhaps no plan has been more generally used in 
this century than the well-known form of subscrip- 
tion. It has some advantages and some disadvan- 
tages. The principal trouble with the subscription 
plan is that it affords no reliable guarantee that the 
amounts subscribed will ever be paid. In the minds 
of many people it is too lightly regarded. While 
the subscriptions can be collected by law, yet we 
have never known one to be thus collected. Dr. 
Porter mentions a case in which $27,000 was sub- 
scribed and less than $6,000 was ever paid. There 
are always too many conditions suffered to enter 
into the subscription plan. Too long a time is al- 
lowed to elapse between the date of the subscription 
and the date of payment. Persons may lose their 
zeal or become offended, or estranged and seek occa- 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



61 



sion for finding fault, or excuse for not paying. In 
these and various other ways the losses on subscrip- 
tions often lead to serious embarrassment. 

In order to overcome these difficulties it would be 
well to make the subscription more explicit than is 
usually done. It should always specify when the 
various amounts pledged shall be payable, and to 
whom they shall be paid. The object for which the 
money is to be raised should be clearly stated, and 
all the conditions should be incorporated in full. 
" If any subscription is to be paid otherwise than in 
cash, this should be stated. All fictitious subscrip- 
tions obtained for the purpose of inducing others to 
subscribe, or to subscribe more largely, invalidate all 
that follow them. If the object proposed shall not 
be undertaken, the subscription is not binding."* 

FORMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. 
Xo specified form is necessary to render a sub- 
scription legal. They may be variously constructed 
to suit the requirements of the case. We give a 
couple of forms : 

, N. Y., October I, 1880. 

We, the undersigned, members and friends of 
Trinity Lutheran Church, do hereby subscribe and 
agree to pay the amounts set opposite our respective 
names, for the purpose of erecting a new church 
edifice, the same to be constructed of brick, the cost, 
when completed, not to exceed §3 5. 000, the same to 



^ Rev. James Porter, D. D = 



62 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



be all subscribed and one-half paid into the hands 
of the trustees before ever the contracts shall be 
awarded or the work begun. The amounts of the var- 
ious subscriptions are to be paid to the trustees in 
two equal installments ; the first installment shall be 
payable as soon as the entire amount necessary 
shall have been subscribed, and the second install- 
ment six months thereafter. Should the conditions 
stated above not be complied with, the various sub- 
scriptions shall be null and void. 

ANOTHER FORM. 

We, the undersigned, severally agree to pay to the 
treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church, the sum 
set opposite our respective names for the purpose of 
liquidating the debt and paying the mortgage upon 
the parsonage of said church ; one-half on demand, 
and the balance three months after the demand for 
the first payment. 

, Pa., September 12, 1880. 

SELECTING A COMMITTEE. 

When the method to be used is such as to require 
a soliciting or canvassing committee, the greatest 
care is to be exercised in the selection. They should 
be of such (a) as are willing to inconvenience them- 
selves, forego pleasure, lay aside their own business, 
and give the necessary amount of time to this im- 
portant work, (b) They should be such as have the 
success of the undertaking at heart, (c) They should 
be only of such as contribute (whether the amount 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



63 



be much or little) to the full extent of their ability. 
Then their influence will be salutary, and their words 
have weight with others, (d) They must be persons 
of influence, because of their consistent Christian lives. 
(e) They should be persons not easily disheartened, 
or soon discouraged, (f) Should be such as are not 
of hasty temper, easily provoked to anger, or given 
to injudicious speech, {g) If possible, avoid the selec- 
tion of all such as are odd, eccentric, morose, long- 
faced, fault-finding, repulsive, over-bearing, dicta- 
torial. 

SUGGESTIONS TO COMMITTEES. 

You will see by the foregoing something of what 
you should at least seek to be, if you would be fitted 
for the important work for which you have been 
chosen. A few additional suggestions may be of 
service : 

1. The first thing necessary is to secure a complete 
list of all persons who should subscribe something. 
Do not slight the poor, nor forget the women, nor 
such young persons as are earning money. No mem- 
bers of the family should be slighted, not even the 
children. 

2. As nearly as possible, learn what amount each 
person on the list would be able to contribute, and 
apportion the entire amount to be raised among the 
various individuals. If the committee cannot appor- 
tion it, they will not be likely to raise it. In going 
to the various parties it will be found necessary oc- 
casionally to increase or diminish the amount, but 
it will serve a very excellent gauge. 



6 4 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



3. Much caution must be exercised to prevent 
penurious persons from escaping by subscribing some 
trifling and insufficient amount. It might be better 
to leave such persons until the last, rather than have 
the subscriptions of others decreased because of the 
niggardliness of such individuals. The cause would 
really succeed better without them than with them, 
if the rest of the congregation could only see it in 
that light. 

4. Always regard with suspicion all hints, insinua- 
tions, and offers of liberal help upon uncertain con- 
ditions, but which cannot be reduced to a bona fide 
subscription. 

5. If the subscription is started with the under- 
standing that a certain amount is to be raised, or the 
subscription is to become null and void, there may 
be some, as has elsewhere been the case, who, in a 
moment of zeal or personal pride, will pledge more 
than they subsequently think best, and then openly, 
or secretly, exert themselves to defeat the success of 
the effort. Much patience and prudence are needed 
in dealing with such individuals. 

6. " The subscription book should specify when 
the several sums pledged shall be due and pay- 
able, and it is generally wise to have them divided 
into installments to accommodate the maturing lia- 
bilities of the trustees or building committee grow- 
ing out of the contract. People in ordinary circum- 
stances can pay a subscription in three or four 
installments, several weeks or months apart, easier 
than they can pay the whole at once. And, if the 




The: New Metropolitan A. M. B. Church, 
Washington, D. C. 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



65 



subscribers understand that these payments are 
arranged to accommodate the obligations of the 
trustees to the builder, they will be much more likely 
to pay promptly." 

7. As the securing of funds for liquidating a debt, 
or carrying forward a new enterprise, is only a means 
to an end, viz.: that the church may become more 
efficient in saving souls and rendering men better, be 
very careful w T hat means you use to secure the sub- 
scriptions. Do not quicken such passions as the 
gospel of Christ is designed to allay. Do not appeal 
to pride, vain-glory, selfishness, or a spirit of emula- 
tion, and leave the religious affections unawakened, 
or but partially enlisted in this great work. Touch 
the main-spring appointed of God to move the soul 
in the performance of duty in this matter. Place the 
main reliance on the main motive — the heart. Let 
your appeals be such that each subscriber shall be 
rendered better in proportion as you enable him to 
see his duty, and induce him to contribute from 
scriptural motives and religious principles. 

8. Frequent reports should be publicly made -to 
the congregation. As all who contribute are sure to 
become more interested in the success of the under- 
taking, they will always be anxious to learn what 
progress the committee is making. The report of 
the committee, with the names of subscribers and 
amounts pledged, may be read each Sabbath by the 
pastor, when making the various announcements for 
the week, or printed reports may be distributed 
through the congregation gratuitously. Every mem- 



66 



(:u\;i<(,u HNANCIK \<\S(, 



bcr of the congregation is a partner in the business, 
and should be kept, informer] in regard to all that is 
bems; done by the committee. It is a rjreat mistake 
to keep t ho subscript ions secret, or faii to report how 
the money is disbursed. 1 4 ; j i r , open-hand dealing 
is by far the best, both for the sik cess of the under 
taking, and the protection of the committee-. 

maktn'c; c()\a.:yt;\ roxs. 

On the subject of collecting the subscriptions, K cv. 
James Porter, \). \)., very aptly remarks: 

" We advise, also, that payment be kindly and 
promptly demanded as in every other business, and 
of each and every subscriber. Trustees who can 
readily command fund', on their own personal credit 
are apt to neglect this. They often collect the 
larger subscriptions in full, and leave the smaller 
ones to the last, which roves the impression to the 
youn^ and poor t hat they are not considered of much 
account. This is a double mistake, first, in that it 
increases the liability of losing the small subscrip- 
tions altogether; and secondly, in that it lets an op- 
portunity slip of impressing the poor that their 
subscriptions, however small, are appreciated, and 
thai they are partners in the noble enterprise. This 
laryc class of our members and friends have enough, 
at the least, to discourage them, and should have 
the benefit of all sik h attentions, for their own ^ood 
and that of the cause when they shall become more- 
able. I'cw fully appreciate the importance of keeping 
such pcoph- in eood spirit ,. Youne— subscribed 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



6 7 



five dollars toward erecting the first little church in 
his native town, and raised the money by trapping 
musk rats, and felt the better for it, and for the 
manner in which it was received. When the church 
was superseded by a better one, a splendid edifice, 
he gave many thousands. Had his first noble liber- 
ality been despised, the result might have been less 
gratifying. 

"We say, then, collect the small subscriptions 
promptly and kindly. Let little Tommy pay his, 
and Mary hers, and the old folks theirs, and make 
them feel they are important spokes in the wheel of 
progress. This will justify you in pressing your 
claims upon another class everywhere found, who 
have more means, but are constitutionally tardy, 
especially in paying church subscriptions. " 

NOTE SUBSCRIPTION PLAN. 

For some years past the note subscription plan 
has largely superseded the old form of general sub- 
scription. In some respects it is much to be pre- 
ferred. 

1. It suffers but a very small percentage of loss, 
resulting from unpaid pledges. While in the eyes 
of the law it is no more binding than a subscription, 
yet in the minds of the people it has greater weight. 

2. The note system easily provides for the interest, 
and when the amounts equivalent to the entire debt 
are once pledged the debt becomes virtually removed 
from the church, and is distributed among the vari- 
ous subscribers, for if they are not able to pay at 



68 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



once the interest of the one will meet the interest 
of the other. This feature is a very excellent one, 
for the providing for the interest of a debt is a very 
troublesome matter. 

3. It more readily allows of payments in regular 
installments. The whole amount of the donation 
may be divided equally or unequally into separate 
notes, all drawn at the same time, and then, as each 
is paid, it is torn off and returned to the drawer in 
place of a receipt. Or, the various installments may 
be indorsed on the back of the note until the last 
payment is made, when it is returned to the drawer. 

4. The " stub " which remains after the note is 
torn off serves an excellent purpose in preserving a 
complete and convenient record of the entire sub- 
scription, giving the date of the note, face of note, 
interest, total amount, drawer of the note, to whom 
it was paid, and when paid. 

5. The notes may be drawn up in regular bank 
form, and be discounted in event of needing money 
to meet accruing obligations, or they may simply be 
left at the bank for payment or collection. 

They may also have, in some instances, a couple 
of difficulties or objections. 

I. The note subscription allows of no conditions. 
If the payments are to be made upon certain con- 
ditions, these conditions may be in verbal or written 
contract (not under seal), but must not be expressed 
either in the body of the note or upon the back. A 
promissory note must be clogged by no conditions or 
contingencies, To be a legal note " It must be for 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



6 9 



the payment of money at all events, and hence if 
there be any contingency as to its payment, it is no 
bill or note. But if made payable on the happening 
of an event, however remote, yet if it be of certain 
occurrence, the bill or note is good, as if made pay- 
able two months after the death of the maker's 
father. 

" Conditions to destroy the character of a bill or 
note need not be on its face. An indorsement on 
the back of it, rendering it payable upon certain con- 
ditions, and done at the time of making it, will have 
the same effect. But a contemporaneous parol* 
agreement can have no such effect, because, resting 
in parol, it is not admissible in evidence, nor would 
an indorsement which simply referred to an agree- 
ment by way of identification." f 

Some persons will object to placing their names to 
a note. These may usually be met by showing them 
that the nature of a regular subscription is such as 
to render it equally as binding as a note ; or that it is 
the form upon which the congregation have agreed 
for the mere sake of uniformity: or, if no other alter- 
native presents itself, such persons may be allowed 
to pledge their amounts upon a regular subscription, 
in which it is also agreed to pay the interest upon the 
amount subscribed. Generally, though not always, 
this excuse is a mere pretext to escape the payment 
of any subscription at all. 

* Parol contract — "Any contract not of record or under seal., 
whether oral or written ; a simple contract." Story. 
f Bryant & Stratton's " Commercial Law." 2S5, 286. 



70 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



SUGGESTIONS. 

All subscribers should have a clear understanding 
of what disposition is to be made of their notes. If 
the trustees, or the parties to whom they are made 
payable, propose to sell the notes, or use them in 
paying bills, this should be clearly understood by 
each person before signing the note. They should 
know where they may find their note, and to whom 
the money is to be paid. If they are to be discounted, 
or left at the bank for collection, this should be dis- 
tinctly understood, or unpleasant results may come 
of such a course ; but where this is agreed upon, and 
named in the note, it may, at least among business 
men, be the more pleasant method of disposing of 
the matter. 

The notes and stubs may be easily and cheaply 
bound in flexible covers, about one hundred in a 
book. This will be a neat and convenient form, and 
then when the notes are all paid and torn off, the 
cover may be reduced to the size of the stubs, and 
this will preserve them in permanent form for future 
reference. 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



71 



FORMS OF NOTES AXD STUBS. 




co 

CO 



« 1 ^ 3 

^ ° ^ 5 

g ^ k, ^ 

■ ^ 5 

> -ss ^ 



co 

CO 



s s 

sy sy 



3 



5 £ 5 



CO CO 
CO CO 



3 § 



















mo\ 






E 


Face <? 


'Si 

<^ 


s. 

Si 



SJ 



72 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



It may not be out of place for us to say, just here, 
that it pays many fold to have all the envelopes, 
notes and various papers needed in church work, 
neatly printed. Printer's ink, judiciously used, pays 
well in every business enterprise, and it has proven 
equally valuable in the successful management of 
churches. Notes can be printed and bound for about 
seventy-five cents or a dollar a hundred, and to under- 
take to use this system without printed notes would 
end in confusion, and perhaps disgust, 

TAX-LIST PLAN. 

In paying a debt, some congregations have resorted 
to the assessors' book, or the amounts fixed in the 
tax-list in order to secure an equitable division of 
the entire amount among the various parties who 
should contribute. At first thought, this plan is 
likely to be regarded with favor, and we have known 
an instance or two in which it has really been used 
with success ; but the difficulties which encompass 
it are so numerous, that it more generally gives way 
to some other system. If the town or city taxes are 
regarded as equitable and justly apportioned among 
the various residents, then it may not be difficult to 
secure the assent of the congregation for the intro- 
duction of the plan, but if this is not felt to be the 
case, such assent will not readily be obtained. It 
will not do to adopt it unless it is received with 
unanimous favor. The majority may not inflict this 
upon the minority, without invading their rights. 
They may urge it as a standard of duty, but they 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



73 



have no right to enforce it as an inflexible law. God 
has made us free moral agents, and no body of men, 
either in church or State, have delegated to them 
the right to deprive us of that freedom. To this, 
however, there is a limit. In the sight of God, covet- 
ousness is as great a crime as lying or theft, and when 
the church shall have washed her hands clean from 
this great sin of " covetousness, which is idolatry/' 
then it may eject its members for this as well as for 
any other heresy. 

Dr. Lansing, a missionary in Egypt, tells us that a 
native deacon at Stuft, sixty miles south of Cairo, 
suspended ten of his members for such things as 
bad dispositions, vanity, stinginess and not allowing 
their wives to attend weekly prayer meetings. What 
a thinning out there would be if such things were 
permitted to have weight here, and yet, why should 
not the church in some way take notice of bad 
tempers, biting-tongues, stinginess and all the imp- 
ish brood of vices and habits that are practically not 
considered incompatible with " professed" religion? 

We have, however, known an instance in which 
this plan was adopted by an almost unanimous vote, 
but there were two members who dissented, and 
subsequently refused to pay the amounts appor- 
tioned to them. They were arraigned before the 
church council, tried and their names stricken from 
the roll of membership. The case was appealed, 
carried up to the synod, and the action reversed. 

Advantages. — The tax-list plan is simple, easily 
comprehended, and if it can be adopted with unani- 



74 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



mous consent, the labor of securing the amount nec- 
essary may be greatly reduced. But it . is apt to 
meet with various 

Objections. — I. That the tax-list itself is not equi- 
table, and does not justly indicate the financial 
strength of the various persons enrolled. 

2. There are many nominally poor people, who 
would give liberally, whose names do not appear at 
all upon the tax-list. 

3. Many persons who are nominally rich, and are 
large tax payers, are " property poor," and have little 
or no ready money. 

4. It has the appearance of being, although it need 
not really be, less scriptural than various other plans. 
The contributions seem to have too little of the lib- 
eral, "willing mind" spirit, which the Bible every- 
where inculcates. The various contributors are apt 
to appear as though they were fearful lest they 
should, by any accident, contribute a single dollar 
more than equity or absolute necessity demanded, 
and it is at least questionable whether the tenden- 
cies are not toward such a result. " The Lord loveth 
a cheerful giver." 

APPORTIONING PLAN. 

A plan kindred to the tax-list plan, and a modifi- 
cation of it, might be called the apportioning plan. 
It consists in selecting a judicious committee, whose 
duty it shall be to acquaint themselves, by any rea- 
sonable means, with the pecuniary ability of all who 
may be expected to contribute, and then to appor- 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



75 



tion the debt in an equitable and just manner among 
them. The results of the committee's work, if the 
whole debt be very large, may be reported in full to 
the congregation, for their sanction, or, if the entire 
amount be less imposing, the congregation may de- 
cide, at the time of appointment, that they will abide 
by the judgment of the committee. 

In many congregations this plan has worked very 
satisfactory results. It is devoid of most of the diffi- 
culties and objections which are inherent in the tax- 
list plan. 

After the committee have completed the appor- 
tionment, each of the members and friends of the 
congregation may be informed of the amount they 
are expected to pay by a circular letter. A suggest- 
ive form will be found under the head of " The 
Envelope System," in Chapter IV. 

SHARE FLAX. 

The plan of dividing the entire amount of the 
debt into equal portions, and calling them shares, 
has worked well in many parishes. This may be 
illustrated by an example or two. A Presbyterian 
church in the State of Wisconsin had a debt of 
Si«ooo. This amount was divided into 274 shares, 
°f S3. 65 each, and was taken by 130 persons. Thirty 
shares, amounting to $109.50, was the largest num- 
ber taken by any one individual. The others ranged 
from that number down to a single share. 

In some instances it may be a good idea to arrange 
the supporters of the church, according to wealth 



7 6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



and modifying circumstances, into four, five, or more 
classes, and then apportion a uniform number of 
shares to each individual of the same class. This 
may aid in making the final amount adequate to pay 
the entire debt, for one of the disheartening results 
of raising a debt is to canvass the entire field, and 
then, at the last, to find that there still remains a 
balance unprovided for. 

Where the amount to be raised is larger, the shares 
may be divided into sums of $12, or $24, or $50, or 
more, and then be paid in regular installments of 
$1, $2 or $5 weekly, semi-monthly or monthly, as 
the committee may see fit. The amounts may be 
paid to the treasurer direct or placed in a sealed 
envelope and deposited in the collection basket each 
Sabbath as a free-will offering. 

Where the execution of this plan is intrusted into 
the hands of a judicious and persevering committee, 
there is little or no reason why it should not be ren- 
dered a success. In well-to-do congregations it is 
best suited to the liquidation of the smaller indebted- 
nesses ; but where the entire membership is com- 
posed of persons of but limited means, it will be 
found very serviceable in enabling them to provide 
for a large amount by extending the payments over 
a greater period of time. 

ENVELOPE SUBSCRIPTION PLAN. 
This plan differs from the regular subscription in 
that the payments are made weekly, or monthly, in 
envelopes, instead of the entire amount being paid 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



77 



in one or two installments at greater intervals. It 
differs also from the share plan in that the amounts 
are unprescribed. 

After the amounts have been subscribed, each con- 
tributor is supplied with the necessary number of 
envelopes, the form of which may be suggested by 
the following : 

" Remember the Lord thy God, for it is He that giveth thee power 
to get wealth." Deut. viii, iS. 

Register No Amount inclosed, $ 

FREE-WILL OFFERING. 

From 

Contributed toward the liquidation of the church debt. 



[^p" 3 Enclose the amount regularly, seal, a7id place in the collec- 
tion basket. 

This plan may be combined with the regular en- 
velope system used to provide for current expenses. 
In making the annual assessment for current ex- 
penses, the interest and a portion of the principal 
may be added, and the entire amount apportioned 
among the members and supporters of the church. 
The amounts are placed together in the same envel- 
ope, and deposited in the basket, to be credited by 
the treasurer to the specified objects, or, the contents 
may be credited in one amount, out of which fund 
current expenses may be paid, and the balance re- 
maining at the end of the year apportioned to pay 
interest and reduce the debt. This latter, however, 



78 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



is not as business-like as the former, and is apt to be 
attended with more loss on account of unpaid sub- 
scriptions, or using all the funds to meet current 
expenses, investments, and losses. 

SINKING FUND PLAN. 

Where a congregation is composed of such as have 
no accumulated property, but are dependent upon 
their daily labor, it is well to use a sinking fund plan. 
This consists in the appropriation of an annual sur- 
plus to the reduction of the debt. It may be a plan 
like the preceding envelope subscription, or it may 
be an annual surplus, from pew rentals, or any other 
revenue the church may have. 

A very good plan was tried by the Rev. G. W. 
Enders, and by the request of the editor of the 
Lutheran Evangelist, was written up for publication 
in that paper. As it is full of energy and suggestion, 
we insert it here in full : 

" Mr. Editor — I propose to fulfill my promise 
by writing, at your request, an article of our method 
of paying our church debt. It is one of the good 
signs of the times that churches are bestirring them- 
selves to be up with the apostolic injunction, 6 owe 
no man any thing.' 

" I found every church of which I have been pas- 
tor in debt. My experience bears me out in saying 
that a debt is one of the most serious hindrances 
to the prosperity of the church. Does the pastor 
want to make any local improvement, or take up a 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



79 



collection for missions, or any other benevolent cause, 
he is met with, ' But we must pay off the debt first, 
charity begins at home/ etc. But that debt is care- 
fully preserved to furnish excuse against charity any- 
where. 

" Well, I found my present church in debt about 
84,000. My first endeavor after settlement here was 
to pay the debt. But various ' I pray thee have me 
excused,' met me at every turn. Some said, ' Can't 
be done these hard times/ others, ' We've paid our 
share already, let others pay up;' others, 'We've 
paid to the church for years, now let this debt alone 
and our children will pay it when they grow up,' and 
others still pleaded, ' It's not good for a church to be 
out of debt, because so long as the church has debt 
it won't go into new undertakings and expenses, and 
so money is saved by a debt/ etc. 

" I found it, therefore, impracticable to pay off our 
church debt in the usual way. I cast about, resolved 
upon and carried out, and proposed to continue the 
following plan, viz. : 

" I districted my congregation by streets and 
squares in the city, and those in the country by 
neighborhoods. All this I put on paper. 

" Then I called a meeting of all my young people 
and all unmarried communicants, excluding every- 
body else. To this assembly my plan was submitted, 
with suitable instructions and explanations. A 
young people's society was immediately organized, 
the young ladies electing one of their number as 
treasurer for their portion of the lot. Similarly a 



8o 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



young man was elected treasurer for the young men. 
Collectors were appointed in every district according 
to my written programme, and it was agreed that 
each one ought to give at least one cent a day toward 
the payment of the debt, and the collectors were in- 
structed to make a list of all church members within 
their respective districts, and to call regularly once 
every week for contributions. My young people 
took hold of this work with enthusiasm, and with 
what result the conclusion will show. 

" Next I called a meeting of all the married ladies 
of the congregation and proposed my plan. They 
adopted it and at once proceeded to appoint col- 
lectors to make the weekly collection. 

" Then I organized my catechetical class, in like 
manner electing a girl and boy respectively, treasurer 
for their sides, and one exercise of the meeting of 
the class was to take up the collection wherever the 
class met. Next younger children were appointed 
in various parts of the congregation to gather the 
children's offerings. (But to date I have been un- 
able to see my way clear to organize the fathers into 
active companies.) 

" During the last week of each month the collect- 
ors report to their respective treasurers and pay over 
the money. Then on the first Sunday in the month 
a service appropriate is held in the church, and each 
treasurer and all persons wishing to make gifts are 
invited to arise and bring their offerings to the altar 
and lay it thereon, after which a general collection 
is held for the same object. 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



81 



" We began this work last January, and have not 
omitted a single week or month. Of course, it re- 
quires tact, care and labor to keep so extensive a 
machinery in running order. Feeble objections, and 
sometimes obstructions arise, but a little oil prevents 
much friction. But some will say, ' What, a penny 
a day, and every day, week and month? It's too 
silly, and won't work, or it won't pay.' Well, to 
satisfy all such, let me say that I esteem it to be 
God's plan, here a little and there a little.' 

"And I give you here the monthly results. We 
began about the middle of January, and the first 
Sunday in February was our first collection : 

February, - $80 27 

March, 231 02 

April, - • - - - - - 136 80 

May, - - - - - - - 124 13 

June (including $100 given by one member) 208 34 

July, - - - - - - 64 65 

August, - - - - - . - 112 16 

September (including $207.15 from railroad 

excursion), - - 291 37 



" Moreover, several hundred dollars of old sub- 
scriptions have during this time been paid which were 
considered void, but these regular collections stirred 
and quickened several consciences into financial rec- 
titude. 

"The result among my people is universal satisfac- 
tion with this method. All give regularly, and no 
one feels as if he had been injured by giving too 



82 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



much. All is voluntary. Our collections for other 
general benevolence have increased in spite of hard 
times. And in July my people felt that this plan 
was working such admirable results that they took 
courage to build a parsonage, which is now under 
roof; we like our plan so well that we shall keep on 
till the old debt and parsonage are paid for. 

" And now, my dear brother pastor, is your church 
in debt ? Then try faithfully our plan, and ' despise 
not the day of small things/ and you will be more 
gratified with results. 

" Ind. GEO. W. ENDERS." 

As these plans are likely to extend through a series 
of years, they are apt to weary both those who con- 
tribute and those who have the matter in charge. 
The result, however, is good, in that it enables a 
congregation to cancel indebtedness, and tends to 
discipline a congregation in constant giving, and then 
when the debt is paid, they will more naturally con- 
tribute toward other objects worthy of aid. 

HELPING PLAN. 

Rev. William Ramsey, in considering how weak, 
struggling congregations may be enabled to pay 
their disheartening debts, suggests the following : 

" It can be done in a short time, by a number of 
Christians, who are not needed in the larger and 
wealthier churches, uniting their contributions, ef- 
forts and prayers with those who are laboring in the 
feebler churches. In this manner they will obey the 
injunction of the apostle, who said, i I have showed 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



33 



you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to sup- 
port the weak ; ' and to remember the words of the 
Lord Jesus, when he said, ' It is more blessed to 
give than to receive.' 

" I will illustrate my meaning by a case which is 
worthy of being recorded. There are, I trust, many 
like it. May there be many more. It is this, in con- 
versation with Mr. K., a worthy member of the 
Methodist church, the following dialogue took place : 

"I. ' Where, now, do you attend church? 

" K. 4 1 attend the Wharton Street church. 

" L ' When did you go there ? 

" K. 'I will tell you, you know we built a church 
there some time ago. We had a very good minister, 
but, as the population was very much scattered and 
there were but few members, the church did not pros- 
per. It was then proposed that a number of mem- 
bers from the city churches should go and aid them. 
About two hundred of us volunteered to go. Some 
go as far as two miles or more, every Sabbath and 
through the week. I have been there about two 
years. Our coming inspired the minister and the 
people with new zeal. We went to work, and we 
have now a membership of about six hundred. 

"I. 'Well, my friend, you adopted the right plan, 
and if other weak churches could be aided in the 
same way, they might prosper too. 

" K. ' No doubt of it ; feeble churches need some- 
thing else besides money. 

" I. 4 1 suppose that you are not sorry that you 
have left your old church to labor there? 



8 4 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



" K. ' No, sir ; we have some precious times there. 
But, as they are pretty strong now, some of us are 
drawing off, with the intention of aiding some other 
feeble church. 

" I. ' Go on in your good work, my brother, and 
may the Lord prosper you/ 

" We shook hands and parted. 

" Now, something like this might be done with 
greatest ease imaginable, for every feeble church. 
Yea, more! it ought to be done; and the word of 
the Lord would have free course and be glorified. 
But the time will come, when God shall raise up 
another generation of Christians, who will possess a 
different spirit." 

PASTORAL LETTER PLAN. 
Where the people are fully awake to the duty of 
giving, no easier, more convenient or efficient plan 
can be used than the printed circular, or pastoral 
letter plan. It does away with all undue pressure, 
unscriptural arguments, personal appeal, and personal 
influence. The success of the plan is made to rest, 
not upon impulse, but upon conscience and principle. 
This was the method used by St. Paul in collecting 
alms of the Christians at Corinth to aid the poor and 
persecuted Christians of Judea. They were not to 
wait until the apostle stood before them in person, 
and with an appeal of moving oratory or tender 
pathos, played upon their emotions and secured their 
contributions, but they were to give from principle, 
from a sense of Christian duty, laying by in store as 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



§5 



God had prospered them, that there be no solicitation 
and no personal appeals when the apostle should 
come. 

Much might be said in favor of this method. It 
must, however, be distinctly understood that its 
success is dependent upon an enlightened sense of 
Christian duty. If this is wanting, but little can be 
expected to result from the use of this pastoral letter 
plan. 

We have known this method to be used with great 
success, and in an enlightened Christian community, 
exercised in the grace of giving, there is no system 
which so nicely meets the want, doing away with all 
soliciting and subscription committees, and accom- 
plishes the result so efficiently and pleasantly as this 
very method. To any one who has suffered the un- 
kindnesses attendant upon the circulation of a sub- 
scription during long weeks, and even months, of 
arduous toil, it will be a sufficient recommendation of 
this plan to say that it does away with this necessity. 

In addition to the following sample letter, we refer 
the reader to another specimen under the head of 
" Pastoral Letter Plan," chapter V. 

Dear Brethren in Christ — Ten years ago, by 
the united effort of all the people, we were enabled 
to erect our present large and prized church edifice. 
The total cost of the building when complete and 
furnished was $42,496.25. Of this amount, $17,600 
was subscribed before awarding the contracts, and 
$14,250 was added on the day of dedication. Of 
these amounts, $28,417 was paid in, making a loss 



86 



CHURCH FINANCIERING, 



of $3,433 on unpaid subscriptions. This left a bal- 
ance of $14,079.25 unprovided for. The increased 
expenses and many needed repairs upon the roof 
have nearly exhausted the annual income of the 
treasury, and left much of the interest to accumulate, 
until the entire debt upon the first day of next month 
will amount to $23,791.67. 

It is proposed now to make a final effort to cancel 
the entire amount, and to aid in accomplishing this 
most desirable result you are asked to contribute in 
a liberal Christian spirit. In order that you may not, 
upon the one hand, wrong yourself and family, or 
upon the other hand withhold from God that which 
is justly his, your pastor desires that you make this 
matter a subject of earnest prayer for two weeks, 
and that at the expiration of that time you fill up the 
accompanying blank and lay it upon the collection 
plate the following Sabbath. As you have freely re- 
ceived so freely give. 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

— , Pa., October 12, 1880. 

The accompanying is the blank to be filled up : 

, Pa., October 26, 1880. 

After prayerfully considering my ability and duty 
to contribute toward the liquidation of the debt 
resting upon our church, I will and do hereby cheer- 
fully subscribe the sum of thirteen hundred dollars 
($1,300), to be paid in four quarterly installments, the 
first to be paid one month from this date. 

JOHN STILLWATER. 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



37 



MONTHLY COLLECTION PLAN. 
In congregations of wealth, we have known §8,000 
to be raised in a single year, by setting apart the 
offerings placed in the collection boxes upon the first 
Sabbath of each month, for the payment of a church 
debt. 

There are but few congregations in which this plan 
would accomplish the end to be attained. In its use 
great caution would need to be used lest the result 
should be so meagre as to belittle the cause and de- 
feat the success of this or any plan which might be 
used subsequently. In most congregations the re- 
sults of this plan would be disastrous. 

MORTGAGE DONATION PLAN. 

Where the claims against a congregation are held 
by people of wealth, or liberality, or both, it occa- 
sionally happens that a debt has been canceled by 
inducing such person or persons to surrender their 
claims. This may or may not be a good plan, 
according to circumstances. If the congregation is 
absolutely so poor as to be unable to pay the debt 
or any part of it, then it is a most excellent plan. 
But if the congregation is merely unwilling to pay, 
or indifferent concerning the debt, then such a dona- 
tion would result injuriously to the temporal as well 
as the spiritual welfare of the congregation. It is 
only ruinous to the interests of a congregation to 
have an individual render it unnecessary for them to 
put forth any effort. It will enervate, destroy self- 
respect, and defeat the object of the donor. This is 



88 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

illustrated by the various churches we might enu- 
merate, which have been endowed by a misguided 
liberality. With no need of raising money to pay a 
pastor, to aid the poor, or to convert the heathen, 
they have dragged out a useless existence until 
finally they have disbanded, or had a mere nominal 
existence. Any gift which renders it unnecessary 
for a congregation to act is injurious to its best 
interests. It is better for the congregation to exert 
itself in raising as much as possible before the bal- 
ance is donated. This will make the welfare of the 
church the common interest of all. 

Where it is decided to be best for those who hold 
the mortgages, or notes, to donate the same, and 
such is the sense of both parties, it is always best to 
execute such purpose by canceling the claims in a 
legal manner without delay ; for life is very uncertain, 
and in the event of the death of such intended donor, 
one or two disinterested heirs are likely to refuse to 
carry out the unexecuted purpose of the deceased. 

CHURCH-PAPER APPEAL PLAN. 
Some congregations rush unadvisedly into debt, and 
then seek relief by appeals through the church papers. 
As long as the churches continue to withhold their 
tithes and free-will offerings from the Lord, so long 
will appeals, unless for some very special objects, 
continue to be unsuccessful ; and as soon as the 
churches shall obey God's laws concerning tithes and 
offerings, appeals shall cease to seem necessary, for 
each congregation in established communities will 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



8 9 



find that they have means sufficient. The plan in 
all ordinary circumstances is unphilosophical and 
unsuccessful. 

CANVASSING PLAN. 

The plan of seeking foreign aid by sending agents 
to canvass other congregations is kindred to that of ap- 
peals through the church papers. By all means avoid 
both. For an eloquent chapter on the unwillingness 
of Christians to help their " needy brethren/' you 
will only find it necessary to write, asking the expe- 
rience of some one who has tried either of these 
plans. 

THE DEFRAUDING PLAN. 

Congregations have been known to borrow money 
on trustee notes, to give a first, second, and even a 
third mortgage on the church building and lot, and 
then in an hour of financial pressure have been known 
to allow the property to be sold under foreclosure, 
in order to buy it in at a nominal sum, casting off 
all the just and legal claims by a single act of villainy. 
In most instances the congregations are able to pay 
the debts, and are guilty of a great crime when they 
refuse to pay. In other instances they are unable 
to pay, but are guilty of a crime equally as great, for 
they have erected a debt when there was no possi- 
bility of ever paying it, 

We might name men who are to-day poor and 
dependent upon their daily wages for bread for their 
families, who have been rendered penniless by simi- 



go 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



lar courses of dishonesty, and, in one or two instances, 
the transactions seem almost to have been character- 
ized by fraudulent intent. The course of such con- 
gregations cannot be too strongly denounced. It 
will be well when congregations come to recognize 
the fact that as long as any member of the entire 
organization has a single dollar's worth of property 
he is bound by every sense of right, and every law 
of God, to use it in paying the debt which he has 
aided to contract. In the first place, no congrega- 
tion has a right to create a church debt, but when 
they do, they become personally responsible, and 
their individual property, and even their future earn- 
ings, are pledged to the payment of that debt, and 
no injustice which may be practiced under the pro 
tection of the civil law can stand justified before God 
until the obligation is both acknowledged and dis- 
charged. If a body of individuals decide to build 
a temple, that when completed is given to God in 
solemn ceremony, any bills which this body of indi- 
viduals may create, and which remain unpaid, are 
most clearly their debts, and not God's at all, nor is 
it just that God's temple should be sold to pay their 
debts. God is not in debt, but these individuals are, 
and that contrary to God's command, and being their 
individual debt, their individual property is as justly 
bound to the payment of this as it is bound to the 
payment of any other debt. 

An honest congregation cannot take refuge behind 
the civil law, any more than an honest individual 
can. Neither can a church debt become " outlawed. " 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



91 



If it ever becomes outlawed it can never become out- 
gospeled. A " church debt/' so called, but really 
the congregation's debt, remains in force as long as 
the persons live who made it, and they are bound to 
it by every sense of honor, by every manly principle, 
and every law of God ; neither can they rid them- 
selves of this obligation by separating themselves 
from the organization, or removing into the limits of 
another congregation. The obligation is a personal 
one, unaffected by time or place, and only relieved 
by payment or death — and then their estate is 
justly holding. When people shall come to look at 
this matter in its true light they will not be so fast 
to create " church debts." 

CHURCH ENTERTAINMENT PLAX. 

.After the Church of Rome had preached against 
the God-ordained law of the tithe, it found itself in 
the pitiable plight of poverty. 1 To escape from the 
sad but inevitable consequences of its sin, it sought 
to replenish its empty coffers by introducing pilgrim- 
ages to its thousand shrines, with their bones of 
saints, sacred relics and pretended miracles. The 
divine law was supplanted by the sale of indulgences, 
and giving as an act of worship found its place 
usurped by lotteries, festivals, shows, theatres and 
every device by which priestcraft could extort money 
from a people who knew not the word of God. 

It is only to be lamented that the Protestant 
churches have in any measure been given to the use 
of any of these iniquitous plans for raising money. 

1 



9 2 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Too many of our churches which have been dedicated 
to the glory of God are desecrated by fairs, oyster 
suppers, dramas, tableaux, lectures, shows, exhibi- 
tions and various other things which are ruinous to 
the financial as well as the spiritual prosperity of the 
church. Money is not valuable enough to be pur- 
chased at so ruinous a price, and the fewer unholy 
people we gather into the church by these unholy 
means the better for the church and for the world. 

The process by which a church fair pays church 
debts is thus described by a Presbyterian elder : 
" Now, brethren, let us get up a supper and eat our- 
selves rich, Buy your food. Then give it to the 
church. Then go buy it back again. Then eat it 
up, and then — your church debt is paid." 

Sometime since a young lady inquired by letter of 
the New York Tribune how she could raise some 
money for a small country church. She writes : 

" Do you think it would be advisable to attempt 
a concert ? We have had calico parties, sugar par- 
ties, fish ponds, mock post-offices and the like. If 
you can suggest some new form of entertainment 
you will earn our sincerest thanks/' 

To this the Tribune answers : " We recommend 
a revival of religion." This is decidedly the best 
answer and the best method that could be given. 
A revival of genuine religion so awakens the spirit 
of benevolence and unites the hearts and efforts of 
Christians, that all the money needed to carry on 
the work of the church is freely contributed. 

At one of the Christian conventions, Mr. Moody 
was asked : " Are church fairs and sociables wrong? " 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



93 



Mr. Moody answered: "Decidedly! 1 have not 
always thought so, but my eyes are open now. It 
is better to ask direct for money than entice a man 
to a church fair and make him pay a dollar and a 
half for an article that cost fifty cents. He goes 
home and says he has been swindled, but consoles 
himself with the reflection that he has benefited the 
church. The idea is, that young men go to such 
entertainments because there are pretty women 
there. It does no good,, and certainly should be 
discouraged." 

In Scotland it is one of the principles of the United 
Presbyterian Church not to accept money for sacred 
uses from unclean hands. As God's agents or min- 
isters, they decline to take for Him money that, as 
far as they can see, has not been honestly made. 
" When the great Glasgow Bank failure took place, 
some of the directors were members of the United 
Presbyterian congregations of that city, and one or 
more of them were large givers — almost the sup- 
port of their particular* churches. When, by the 
judgment of the civil courts, they were declared to 
have been guilty of systematic fraud for some years 
back, their liberal donations were all returned to 
them, although it more than crippled the congrega- 
tions who did it. 

This was a wisdom which, to most churches, would 
appear folly, but no surer course could be pursued 
to secure the divine blessing. If some congrega- 
tions, such as are almost everywhere to be found, 
were to refund what they have secured by means of 



94 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



neck-tie parties, exhibitions, oyster suppers and sim- 
ilar devices, they would be robbed of even the little 
they now seem to have. 

We know of no argument in favor of such enter- 
tainments as have been indicated, and some of the 
arguments against them might be briefly stated as 
follows : 

1. In proportion as they are more frequently used 
they do despoil the church of its spiritual power. 

2. Those who labor faithfully for the success of 
the enterprise are apt to suffer from unkind speech, 
or unjust suspicion in the management of the 
finances. 

3. In most cases they are employed by Christians 
who withhold from God that which he requires at 
their hands, while they seek to carry forward the 
work of the church by drawing the needed funds 
from " outsiders." They covet the wealth of the 
wicked, and seek opportunity to gain their influence 
and money. " Know ye not that the friendship of 
the world is enmity with God ? Whosoever, there- 
fore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of 
God." 

4. If not universally, yet quite generally, they 
alienate from the church some of its most useful 
members. 

5. Whatever other effect these entertainments 
may have upon those who are not God's members, 
they surely will not lead poor sinners to the cross of 
Christ. 

6. Those most worldly-minded in the congregation 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



95 



are sure to desire, and apt to succeed, in being at the 
head of these entertainments, and guard them as best 
we may, they are almost sure to introduce into them 
such features as are ruinous to the best interests of 
the church ; a disgusting song spoils the concert, a 
double entendre the exhibition, cordials, cider and 
cigars the picnic, a heterodox statement or irreligious 
sentiment the lecture ; on and on through the whole 
list the devil is determined to be in somewhere, or 
his personal friends will denounce the pastor as an 
" old fogy," get enraged because they cannot have 
their own way, dismember the congregation, and 
leave in disgust. 

7. Last, but by no means the least, of all the evils 
is the undeniable fact that church fairs, oyster sup- 
pers, and the whole round of church entertainments 
are fatal to every impulse and principle of genuine 
scriptural benevolence. 

GOD'S PLAN. 

As God did not design that congregations should 
ever go into debt in building churches, He gives us 
no plan for getting them out of debt. The only 
light which the Bible throws upon this question 
would have to be gathered from the plans which God 
has given for securing the means necessary to erect 
structures for His worship. The reader is referred 
to that department in chapter V. 

CAN THE DEBTS UPON THE CHURCHES BE PAID. 
Three years ago the recorded loans to the various 



9 6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



churches, secured by bond and mortgage, not includ- 
ing loans obtained upon notes and other securities, in 
the city of New York alone, amounted to the enor- 
mous sum of $2,367,886. The various denominations 
were represented by the following amounts : 

Presbyterian, $706, 000 00 

Reformed, - 644, 000 00 

Protestant Episcopal, - - 453, 000 00 

Roman Catholic, ... - 229, 000 00 

Baptist, - ----- 212,000 00 

Methodist, 79,000 00 

Lutheran, - 44, 886 00 

The debts upon the various churches throughout 
the United States foot up to such vast millions that 
when the herculean task of paying them is contem 
plated, the question naturally arises, can the debts 
now resting upon the churches be paid ? Let a 
Christian merchant in his convincing words answer 
the question. 

" That the professed followers of Christ, especially 
in our day and country, possess a large share of this 
world's riches, is apparent to the most casual ob- 
server. Subject to no persecutions, relieved of the 
stigma which in the earlier history of the church at- 
tached to the Christian name, not liable to be de- 
spoiled of their goods because of their loyalty to their 
divine Head, many of those enrolled under the ban- 
ner of Jesus rank high as the possessors of material 
wealth. A large number of those at the head of our 
railroad and canal corporations, our river and ocean 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



97 



steam navigation companies and shipping firms ; 
many of those prominent either in the ownership or 
the management of our great commercial houses, our 
telegraph and insurance companies ; not a few of 
those who have achieved honorable distinction as fi- 
nanciers, as bankers and brokers, as managers of our 
savings banks and trust companies ; not a few of 
those who conduct on a large scale our lumber, min- 
ing, manufacturing, and agricultural interests, profess 
allegiance to Him whose is the earth and the fullness 
thereof, to whom belong alike the silver and the gold, 
and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 

" From those owning broad acres of the richest 
soil on which our great staples are grown ; from those 
in our large cities owning plots of land on which 
lofty palaces are reared ; from those who manage our 
great public works ; from engineers, architects, law- 
yers, physicians, authors, lecturers, editors, men of 
letters, men of science, may be selected many bear- 
ing the Christian name, to whom God has given in 
greater or less degree the riches of this world. 
Scarcely any honorable secular profession can be 
named that does not contribute its quota of those 
possessed of far more than the mere means of living. 
In the princely residences of Christians in our cities, 
their dress, their equipage, their costly entertain- 
ments, their general style of living, abundant proof 
is furnished of the unstinted measure of wealth which 
God has poured into their lap. In our towns and 
villages, and in our farming districts ; particularly in 
our seaboard and middle States, it cannot be gain- 



9 8 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



said that Christians share abundantly in the general 
prosperity of the country. 

" The immense, unprecedented sums of money, 
nearly four hundred and twenty-five millions of dol- 
lars, to-day in the savings banks of the two States 
of New York and Massachusettes, deposited chiefly 
by the middle and poorer classes, attest the wide 
distribution of our wealth ; and this extraordinary 
accumulation has awakened the astonishment and 
elicited the hearty commendation of keen observers 
in the old world. If our religious and benevolent 
enterprise languish, surely it cannot be for want of 
means in the hands of the Lord's servants, to whom 
he has committed the stewardship of wealth."'* 

" That the people of God have an abundance of 
His money in their hands," says Rev. William Ram- 
say, " which should be disposed of for the glory of 
their Master, no one can doubt. Do they not live, 
many of them, in their ceiled palaces, and nearly all 
of them in the enjoyment of the comforts of life, 
and, I might add, of its luxuries too? Is there a 
scheme of worldliness that promises temporal gain? 
Is there a scene of national joy and amusement not 
in itself sinful? Is there a new fashion or a new 
mode invented to make life more easy? Is there a 
new enterprise to promote the political prosperity 
of the nation, or to increase the glory of our coun- 
try, both at home and abroad ? Is there any society 
founded for the promotion of the arts, or for the 
cultivation of letters in this great nation, that does 



* J. F. Wyckoff, Esq., in ''The Christian Use of Money.' 



CHURCH DEBTS CAN BE PAID. 



99 



not draw largely upon the treasury of the Lord 
through the hands of His people? Point to me one 
if you can. Why, then, does the house of the Lord 
lie waste, and why are the watchmen on the walls 
of Zion faint and dying for the lack of those means 
which God's people have diverted, in a great degree, 
from their appropriate channel ? I am not finding 
fault with the activity of Christians in any plan 
whose tendency is to promote the temporal good of 
man. But why should they be active in pushing 
forward their researches in science, in the improve- 
ment of the arts, in the improvement and refine- 
ment of society in general, and yet leave the cause 
of God to languish ? Does this latter cause promise 
less temporal gain, or does the money thrown into 
the treasury of the Lord yield less interest, and less 
comfort to the body, and less joy and peace to the 
soul than the amount invested in the stocks of earth, 
that church members are induced to trust their tlious* 
ands in the hands of men, while they will not trust 
their tens to God for safe-keeping? There is some- 
thing here radically wrong. If the pride, covetous- 
ness and selfishness of the church be not the cause 
of the evil, do tell me what is?" 

" Notwithstanding the great debt that presses upon 
the church, it could be paid immediately, because 
the people of God are able to do it. I speak ad- 
visedly when I say they are able to do it. Look at 
the immense wealth that is in this country. Now 
ask into whose hands has God intrusted all this 
wealth ? You will find that a very large portion of 



IOO 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



it is in the hands of those who are the avowed friends 
and followers of Him who became poor for our 
sakes. A large portion of the remainder is held by 
those, who, although not the professed followers of 
Christ, are the decided friends of Christianity — are 
regular in their attendance on the means of grace, 
and are ready to contribute to the support of every 
benevolent enterprise. The wealth of this country 
is not held by the misanthrope and the foe of the 
Bible. If the people of God do not now possess as 
much of their Lord's money as is needed to carry 
forward His work, there is still enough in the hands 
of others to do it, which they may obtain. For, as 
£ the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the 
wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just/ and as 
the promise is ' ask, and ye shall receive/ the amount 
may be had if the proper means be used. There is 
money enough, and more than enough, in the hands 
of Christians to release the houses of their God from 
the pressure of mortgages and judgment bonds which 
now weigh them down. The pew-holders in one 
congregation alone, in this city (Philadelphia), hold 
property to the amount of at least thirty millions of 
dollars ! What a trust is this ! And what a fearful 
responsibility rests upon those who are the stewards 
of so much of God's money. There are individual 
Christians among us who hold property from the value 
of one hundred thousand up to two millions of 
dollars. 

"A gentleman, who certainly has the means of 
knowing facts like the following, and who is not apt 



CHURCH DEBTS CAX BE PAID. 



101 



to make groundless statements, recently informed 
me that the Savior has intrusted in the hands of one 
of His people in this city, and which he now holds, 
more money than has been received into the treas- 
ury of the American Board of Commissioners for 
Foreien Missions since the vear 1812 — say, some 
two and one-half or three millions of dollars." 

" Xow, take what view of the subject you choose, 
still, I think, you will agree with me in the belief 
that the people of God have enough of their Lord's 
money in their hands to pay off all the debts that 
now rest upon the churches dedicated to His ser- 
vice. The work can be done. If the work can be 
done, it may be asked, why is it not done ? I reply, 
that many Christians have not seriously thought of 
paying off the debts of their churches, and yet they 
would cheerfully aid, if any one would lead the way. 
There may be some who do not wish to do it, and 
the reason is, they imagine they can make more 
money for themselves by the operation. I will ex- 
plain myself. Suppose Mr. A. has the sum of $5,000, 
which he chooses to call his own. He is a member 
of a church that is in debt 88,000 or §io,ooo, and is 
now called on to aid in paying the debt. He rea- 
sons thus : I can give $1,000, and so can others ; but 
as the interest is only six per cent, if I keep my thou- 
sand dollars, and trade with it, I can make ten, 
twenty, or even thirty per cent profit out of it. I 
will, therefore, cheerfully pay my portion of the inter- 
est as it becomes due. I will trade with my Lord's 
money, and whatever is over the six per cent, which 



102 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



I must pay as my share of the interest money, I will 
put in my own pocket, and when I am dead the 
money may go to pay the debt. 

" There may be some who feel and act in this way, 
and it is probable that they think they act wisely. 
Perhaps they do for this world, but not for the next. 
Is it the proper course for those to pursue who are 
the Lord's stewards ?" 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. M. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT, 103 



CHAPTER V. 



THERE IS A WAY TO KEEP CHURCHES OUT 
OF DEBT. 

v LL over this country, thousands of churches 



are annually failing to pay current expenses ; 
ministers are perplexed, people are disheartened, and 
the church of Christ is hindered in its great work of 
saving souls. This is a natural result of the sin of 
departing from God's ordained method of sustaining 
His cause upon earth ; and not until the Christian 
church shall fully recognize the divine law of the 
tithe, can we ever intelligently hope for a removal 
of the great curses which impede the church's pro- 
gress. 

During the past decade of years, advances have 
been made toward the true spiritual method of sup- 
porting the church. This introduction of the better 
is the gradual but sure preparation of the church 
for the eventual return to the best ; and in present- 
ing the following methods, now in use by the various 
congregations, we do so, hoping that none will rest 
satisfied with the improvement of their present sys- 
tem, or the introduction of something better, or be 
satisfied with any improvement, only as it indicates 
progress and becomes a promise of the final accept- 
ance, by the people, of that which is God's own 
method. 




104 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



THE PEW SYSTEM. 
Seats in churches are a somewhat modern conven- 
ience, nor are they even now in use in most Roman 
Catholic countries. Among those earliest mentioned, 
we find them in the churches of the Normans, made 
of stone, and projecting from the walls around the 
whole interior, except the east side, In the four- 
teenth century, low wooden seats were promiscuously 
placed about the floor, with the privilege of personal 
claim to any one particular seat granted only to noble- 
men. About the middle of the sixteenth century, 
seats were more fully provided and more regularly 
placed, the entrance being guarded by cross-bars en- 
graved with the initials of the occupant, but just 
when the custom of renting pews was first intro- 
duced might be difficult accurately to ascertain. 

PEW RENTING. 
While there is much which may be truthfully and 
forcibly said against the system of raising the money 
necessary to meet the current expenses of the church 
by the renting of pews, yet there are some things to 
be said in its favor. While many, from a mere desire 
to offer some excuse for not attending church, will 
object to going where the seats are rented, there are 
but few with whom this is the real cause of their 
absence from the house of God. Where there is one 
of the honest few detained on this account, there 
will be two or more of another class, who have rented 
a pew, because they desire recognition in some church 
society, and w T ho, from Sunday to Sunday, are found 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 105 



in their pews, not so much from a love of church 
going as a feeling when Sunday morning comes, 
"well, I pay for a seat, and I guess I might as well 
go and occupy it." And some day, when actuated 
by no higher motive, a truth thus dropped by the 
"wayside may result in the salvation of a soul and 
the addition to the church of a useful member." 

Another advantage of the pew system is that it 
enables entire families to worship God together. It 
secures for each family their own particular seat, and 
when once the entire congregation is assembled, the 
pastor, by scanning the audience, can readily tell 
who of his regular attendants are absent, and when 
missed from their regular places a second time, in- 
quiry may be made and the cause of absence ascer- 
tained. 

Then again, there are many persons who contrib- 
ute liberally of their time and money to secure a 
church home for themselves, and in that church they 
have a local attachment for some particular pew. 
They object to having disinterested parties placed 
upon equal footing and helped to the most desirable 
sittings. They desire, when starting for church, to 
know that they are to find comfortable seats, not being 
left to the alternatives of going long before the hour 
of service, or be crowded into some uncomfortable 
quarter of the church. Regular attendants much 
prefer some regular sitting. 

Perhaps the strongest argument urged by the ad- 
vocates of this system is that its success has gained 
for it a quite general acceptance. 



io6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Rev. E. N. White, D. D., of New York, says, con- 
cerning the system of renting pews : 

" In practice this plan has proved financially the 
best that has yet been devised. It certainly may be 
so managed that no invidious class distinctions shall 
be made, and so that no one need be repelled from 
the church by inability to pay. The differences in 
price, or even in location of sittings, do not necessa- 
rily trench upon the perfect brotherhood and true 
equality of fellow Christians worshiping together. 
No honest man who fears God and pays his debts 
finds his self-respect touched because his house is 
smaller or his clothes coarser than his neighbors ; 
nor is he less respected by any neighbor whose re- 
spect is worth having. Why, then, in the house of 
God need jealousy and heart-burning follow upon 
difference in money ability? We often hear the 
charge made that the poor are kept away from our 
churches, but it would be hard to find, even in this 
money-loving city, a church where a true Christian 
is shut out on account of poverty, or where, because 
of humble attire or smallness of contribution, he is 
treated with disrespect. 

It may be said that under a judicious system of 
pew-rentals, a church without a debt and without 
dissension, in any town where it is surrounded by a 
stable and well-to-do population, has before it a very 
simple problem, financially. It can hardly fail of a 
regular and sufficient income; and to be successful 
financially it has only to keep its expenses within its 
income." 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



IO; 



AGAIXST PEW RENTING. 
Some of the chief arguments urged against the rent- 
ing of pews are : 

1. That it leads to a disparagement of the very 
class of persons who are the special objects of divine 
regard. It makes money the standard of worth, 
causing the congregation to say to the rich, " sit 
thou here in a good place," and to the poor, " stand 
thou here, or sit here under my footstool/' 

2. That it tends to exclude strangers and such as 
are not regular pew holders. 

3. That it educates people to be parsimonious and 
mean, causing them to do such disreputable things 
as rent a Zialfpew, and then occupy a whole one. 

4. That it is not only authority, but it is inconsis- 
tent with the principles of the gospel. 

5. That it despoils giving for the support and 
spread of the gospel of all its value as an act of 
worship, converting this essential portion of divine 
service into an impost levied upon the other portions 
of the service of God. While this result does not of 
necessity attach itself to the system, yet all who have 
had much to do with the renting of pews will have 
been convinced that many, if not most, persons enter 
into the contract from a purely business standpoint, 
driving as sharp a bargain in the church as in the 
world. The time is coming, when " giving " for the 
support of the gospel, both at home and abroad, 
shall again be regarded in the light of God's word. 
When the amount shall be increased to the propor- 
tion of a tithe, and the giving or paying of it shall 



io8 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



not only be a part of the worship of the sanctuary, 
but an essential, an indisputable portion. 

MODES OF RENTING PEWS. 

One quite common method of renting pews is by 
fixing a special day, and after giving due notice, have 
all desiring to become pew-holders assemble at the 
specified time and then rent the pews according to 
one of two plans,- viz. : 

At auction. — The pews are frequently set up at 
auction, and struck off for one year to the highest 
bidder. In this way a large amount of money is 
sometimes secured by the rental of the choice pews, 
but unless the preacher is exceedingly popular, or 
some other unusual excitant quickens a vehement 
competition until all the pews are sold, the entire 
amount will fall short of that which might be real- 
ized by some other method. 

Some congregations fix a gradual schedule of 
prices, accepting no bid which falls below this, they 
sell to the highest bidder. This plan protects the 
pews from being rented at less than the appraisal 
rates. Others, again, attach a fixed value to each 
pew, and then sell at auction, not the pew but the 
choice, or privilege of making first and succeeding 
choice of all the pews. The bid is for the choice, to 
which the regular rental price of the pew is added. 
The following are the conditions of sale, published 
by a large congregation in Brooklyn, N. Y. : 

" Each pew has a fixed valuation, and the choice 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. IO9 



of all in the house is offered, without reservation for 
previous occupants, to the highest bidder. 

" Each aisle seat has a fixed valuation, and is 
offered to the highest bidder for a premium above 
that valuation. The seats are known by the same 
numbers as the pews to which they are attached. 

" Payment of rent for pews is required semi-annu- 
ally, in advance, and for aisle seats the whole year 
in advance. 

" The trustees reserve and will exercise the right 
to re-let any pew or seat, on account of the original 
lessee, if the rent is not paid within thirty days after 
becoming due. 

" No bid will be accepted from those in arrears. 

" No pew or part of a pew, nor any aisle seat, will 
be rented either at the public renting or at any time 
thereafter, for a less period than until January next. 

" The pews and seats are rented with the under- 
standing that if not occupied at least ten minutes 
before the commencement of the services, they may 
then be assigned to strangers. 

" All regular attendants at the church are expected 
to rent sittings, in order that the large current ex- 
penses may be shared by the whole congregation. 

" The house will be open every morning in Janu- 
ary, after the public renting, from 8 to 9 o'clock, 
and on Saturday evenings from 7 to 9 o'clock ; and 
a person will be in attendance to rent such pews and 
seats as remain undisposed of, and to receive pay- 
ments of rent. 

"By order of the Trustees." 



IIO CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

The sale of pews by public auction tends to excite 
among the members a spirit of rivalry, jealousy, 
personal pride and vain glory, and may be conducted 
in such a manner as to subvert the very cause Christ 
has in view in establishing His church upon the 
earth. 

PUBLIC RENTAL, NOT AT AUCTION. 

The custom of renting pews at auction lacks the 
approval of God's word, and of many Christians 
whose judgment is worthy of great respect. Most 
congregations renting pews announce the day and 
hour, have a graded schedule of prices, and rent, 
not to the highest bidder, but to such as first notify 
the committee of their choice. The schedule of 
valuation, if judiciously arranged, may serve an ex- 
cellent purpose in fixing the income of the church 
so that it shall fully meet the annual expenditures, 
and also avoid great diversity in the prices of pews 
equally desirable. If the pews are all rented each 
successive year, the former occupants are usually 
granted the first refusal. 

A more desirable method is to rent the pews for 
an indefinite period, at a fixed rate, to be paid 
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, in 
advance. The lessee may at any time vacate the 
pew by giving notice of the same in writing, and 
paying all arrearages. At least twice a year public 
attention should be called to the matter, and new 
attendants given an opportunity to secure regular 
seats ; or this may be left in the hands of a judicious 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. Ill 



committee, who shall personally call upon all such 
as should be pew-holders. 

One difficulty often arises in churches where seats 
are rented. There are frequently those who are too 
proud to sit anywhere except in the very best pews 
the church affords, and are, at the same time, too 
mean or too poor to pay the price which the sitting 
will and should reasonably bring. As another says, 
they are frequently " of that class who can pay freely 
for tickets to theater, or other places of popular 
amusement ; can hire a carriage for a Sunday drive 
to the park ; can entertain company splendidly at 
Sunday dinners " — and in short who can pay for any 
thing except religion. They are not willing to sacri- 
fice their pride to the best interests of the church 
and all its interests sacrificed to their personal vain 
glory. The fewer of this class of people you have 
in your church the better, for when the church has 
to be sacrificed to satisfy the pride of individuals, 
its usefulness is at an end. Such people have not 
and cannot have the best interests of the church at 
heart, and the sooner they seek sittings somewhere 
else the better for your church, at least. 

SITTINGS FOR THE POOR. 
God has decreed that " The poor shall never cease 
out of the land" (Deut. xv, n). In every age they 
are to be a living illustration to the church, of the 
condition to which the King of Kings condescended 
for the salvation alike of rich and poor. They 
are not to be slighted or neglected by the church 



112 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



founded by Him, who for our sakes became poor. 
They should be made as welcome, and treated as 
cordially in our churches, as those who are rich in 
this world's goods. If by overt act, or cold neglect 
they be excluded, Christ may say to such church in 
that day, inasmuch as ye have shown this disrespect 
unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have 
shown it unto Me. 

Sittings or pews may be secured for the poor in 
several ways : 

1. Every third or fourth pew maybe left for occu- 
pancy by the poor, or they may be assigned to par- 
ticular families. 

2. The pews on one side of each of the aisles may 
be reserved for the poor and strangers. If visitors 
should be sufficiently numerous, any invidious dis- 
tinctions on account of poverty would be overcome. 

3. Encouraging those who are able, to hire one or 
more pews to be occupied by the poor. 

4. Seats may be assigned by the committee to all 
such as shall apply after being cordially invited. 

5. Inducing the more wealthy to contribute to the 
formation of a fund, from which shall be paid all 
arrearages accumulating on pews occupied by such 
as are really unable to pay in full the regular rental. 
If judiciously managed, this may aid in doing away 
with all humiliating distinctions. 

6. If the income of the church is sufficient to per- 
mit, the poor maybe allowed, with reasonable restric- 
tions, to rent pews at the schedule rates, with the 
understanding that what they lack after making an 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 1 3 

honest effort to pay, should be canceled by the sanc- 
tion of the official board of the church. This action 
to take place at stated intervals, not exceeding one 
year. 

7. By an honest and hearty spirit of cordiality 
upon the part of the entire congregation, making 
both rich and poor feel thoroughly at home in their 
pews ; or, as another aptly expresses it : " It is hoped 
that such a spirit will prevail, that each member will 
be willing to pay the highest price he is able, and 
that, too, for the poorest sitting in the house ; and 
then be ready to give that up every Sunday to 
strangers, or what is better to fill it with sinners 
whom he shall bring in, while he himself sits in the 
aisle or on a chair in the corner. This is the princi- 
ple of sacrifice which lies at the foundation of our 
religion. ' Christ pleased not Himself/ neither 
should we. We must have the spirit of Christ, else 
we are none of His. The church can make rapid 
progress upon no other principle." 

Other ways may suggest themselves. In a large 
and wealthy congregation in the State of Xew York, 
in remodeling their church, to avoid the crowding; of 
the poor into the gallery or in some corner of the 
church, the seats were removed from the gallery, the 
space laid off into compartments, carpeted, supplied 
with comfortable chairs, and rented at a high price 
by the more wealthy, in order to allow more space 
for the poor and strangers, who were furnished some 
of the best sittings in the church, This and like ef- 
forts are commendable. 



114 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



SEAT RENTAL AGREEMENTS. 
Where seats are rented there are usually found 
such as are glad to escape the payment of the same 
by the use of any and every unprincipled pretext. 
At the end of each quarter the collector is evaded, or 
some fault is found with the minister, the church 
wardens, or some body, or some thing, until finally 
the year is past and the rent remains unpaid. Fre- 
quently this class of people occupy some of the 
choicest sittings — sittings which could easily be 
rented to good and responsible parties, if this dis- 
honest class could only be gotten rid of. To meet 
this class of persons the author, in his first charge, 
found it necessary to devise some plan which would 
make fruitless excuses, such as, " when some of the 
men who are officers in the church shall pay me what 
they owe me, then I will pay the church." " The 
members of the church have wronged and injured 
me, and I don't intend to contribute to the sup- 
port of such an organization." " The party sit- 
ting just in front of me has a more desirable pew, 
and yet pays less rent than you ask of me. If this 
is the unequal and unfair way the church is to be 
run, I do not propose to pay another cent." To 
meet these and a multitude of other excuses equally 
as sensible (!) agreements printed as the sample given 
below, and bound in cheap form, served an excellent 
purpose : 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. I I 5 



ZIOJSTS E VANGELICAL L UTHERAN CHURCH. 

... , N. Y., 188 . 

/ licreby agree to take seat Xo .... for one year 

from ,18 , , at an 

annual rental of % , to be paid to the Treasurer 

in quarterly installments at the end of each quarter, 
and if not paid in fifteen days after the date upon 
which it falls due, I then agree to pay 5 per cent ad- 
ditional to the collector. 

Neither can they dispute the price, nor the length 
of time agreed upon. It secures the church against 
financial loss by parties removing during the year. 
To save the five per cent, few will allow the fifteen 
days to expire, and the treasurer or collector will be 
spared much unpleasant work in going around mak- 
ing collections. These and other advantages attend 
its use. 

The fear that any would refuse to sign it will prove 
groundless, if the leading members of the church will 
but set the example, and then make no exception to 
the rule. We have never known any one to refuse 
to sign the agreements, and when once signed, the 
petty excuses were no longer encountered, but all 
paid promptly, and the church lost no more money 
by bad debts of this sort. 

PEW RENT NOTICES. 

There are many persons who are sensitive about 
receiving a pew-rent notice, but church business must 
be done in a business-like manner. It should, there- 



Il6 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

fore, be announced that at regular intervals notices 
will be mailed to each and every person indebted to 
the church. Should there be anyone who objects to 
receiving such notice, they may easily avoid the same 
by paying in advance. 

The. following may suggest a form of pew-rent 
notice : 

Carthage, III., . . 188 . 

Mr 

To FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, Dr. 

To pew-rent from , 1 88 , to ...... 1 88 ,$.... 

A fter fifteen days from date five per cent will be 
added for collection. 

, . . , Treasurer. 

Collecting pew rents. 
As a rule it is almost universally best to have the 
pew-rent paid either monthly or quarterly, in advance. 
Those who fail to call on the treasurer of the church 
and pay punctually, should be called upon promptly. 
If much time is permitted to elapse it tends to culti- 
vate a spirit of neglect upon the part of all pew- 
holders, and disastrous results are sure to follow. 
This will take time, but is worthy of even more time 
and inconvenience than it costs. The interests of 
the church should be committed into the hands of 
only such as are willing to devote to it all the time 
and attention it demands. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 1 7 



One of the churches of a city in Pennsylvania 
was continually annoyed with annual deficits. Ex- 
penses could not be met, the pastor could not be 
paid promptly, together with all the other evils which 
follow in the train. The trouble was that the finan- 
ces simply lacked personal supervision, and that 
prudent management needed to render any extensive 
enterprise a success. The entire financial affairs of 
the church were finally entrusted to a competent 
lady, who would devote the necessary time to the 
work. The congregation was canvassed, and a larger 
number of pews were rented as a result. Once a 
month the church bell was rung to notify all that 
the monthly installments were due, and that the 
treasurer would be in the church half a day to re- 
ceive the same. The result need not be told. Now 
the income exceeds the expenditures, the pastor is 
paid promptly, no bill need be presented twice,, 
money always in the treasury, everything moving 
along pleasantly, and increased usefulness comes as 
the attendant result. The financial evil in many 
churches might easily be cured simply by securing 
one who is willing to devote the time required by 
the work. 

PAYMENT IN ENVELOPES. 
In a few churches envelopes are used for the pay- 
ment of pew-rents. It saves the treasurer much 
trouble and the pew-holder much annoyance. The 
idea is capital. There is but one question, however, 
and that is this : Is it right to pay accounts on the 



118 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Lord's Day ? According to the secular view held 
by many concerning the support of the church, it 
would, most assuredly, be as wrong to pay pew rent 
on Sunday as to pay your grocer or butcher. But 
where giving for the support of the gospel at home 
is understood by the people to be as much an act of 
v/orship as giving for the spread of the gospel and the 
conversion of the heathen, then it becomes not only 
admissible, but a positive good, an enjoined duty. 
Let us bring back the offertory into our churches, 
and restore giving to its usurped place in worship. 

But the mere fact that the pews are rented is likely 
to be regarded a prima facie evidence of the pre- 
dominance of the purely commercial idea in the 
management of the finances of the church, and this 
would render the payment of pew rents upon the 
Sabbath, to say the least, a very questionable pro- 
cedure, 

We annex a single but good specimen of the 
envelope used : 

By the rules of the church and congregation all pew rents are 
payable monthly, in advance. 



CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH. 



From, 



For rent of 



Pew No 



For 



, 188 



£21^ Please inclose in this envelope the amount due, and place 
it in one of the boxes near the door, or hand it to the treasurer 
the first Sunday in the month. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



II 9 



TO PROVIDE FOR DEFICIENCIES. 

Should the amount realized from the rent of the 
pews be insufficient to meet current expenses, such 
deficiencies should always be provided for at the be- 
ginning of the vear. This might be done by : 

1. Having the officers of the church make a liberal 
estimate for the ensuing year. It should include 
every thing necessary, salaries, insurance, interest, 
repairs and all incidental expenses, including also 
shrinkage and other contingencies. 

2. Make a fair estimate of the regular income from 
pews, collections, etc., and by deducting this from 
the former, all may see at once the amount still to 
be provided for. 

3. Let this be apportioned among the regular 
attendants. It is usually best to appoint a goodly 
number on the apportionment committee, as it tends 
to help all who " feel poor M to see that they are even 
more able to give than others whose circumstances 
they have misjudged. 

4. Each individual should then be notified of the 
amount which the committee had hoped he might 
be able to give, and asked to satisfy the same. 

Such amounts might be paid in weekly, monthly, 
or quarterly installments, in advance, by the use of 
envelopes, or regular collectors might be sent to 
make regular collections. 

TAX UPON PEWS OWNED BY ATTENDANTS. 

Where churches have been built upon the joint- 
ownership plan, it is usually necessary to provide for 



120 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



the current expenses of the church by levying an 
annual tax upon pews owned by attendants, and 
supplementing this by renting all unsold pews. The 
system is fraught with complications and would 
probably never have been originated, had it not 
been for the influence of the individual proprietor- 
ship argument, in inducing parties to subscribe more 
liberally to the building fund. 

Its disadvantges may be stated in part as : 

1. It leads to 'an inequality in the amounts paid 
by the two classes — those who own and those who 
rent pews. 

2. The trustees are likely to be perplexed in the 
disposition of such pews as are owned by non-resi- 
dents. 

3. It tends to cause those who are simply the 
lessees, to feel but a partial interest in both the 
temporal and spiritual affairs of the church. See 
this subject more fully treated in the succeeding 
chapter, under " the joint-ownership " plan. 

THE FREE PEW SYSTEM. 

The system of having all the pews free is, unques- 
tionably, the true system. It is the only custom 
which is accordant with the principles of the biblical 
method of church support, and the one which must 
again become universal, when the duty of giving at 
least one-tenth for the direct support of the church, 
aside from new enterprises which are to be provided 
for by free-will offerings, and the support of the 
poor by alms-giving, I say, when these principles 




The Old Mouxt Ziox A. M. E. Church. 
Trextox, X. J. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 121 



shall again be preached and the people understand 
their duty in this matter, then will the free pew sys- 
tem again become universal. Many of the methods 
by which money is now secured for church support 
are simply human devices which appeal more to 
personal pride, a spirit of emulation, business inter- 
ests and other unscriptural motives, rather than to a 
sense of obligations as stewards to comply with the re- 
quirements of God, the great proprietor of all things. 

But before coming to the scriptural method for 
providing for the annual expenses of the church, 
there are several other methods in use which prop- 
erly come under the head of the free church, or free 
pew system, which are worthy of presentation. 

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Many churches which are using a sort of "give 
what you please, or as little as you please " system, 
try to dignify the same by the scriptural title of 
" Free-Will Offering." This is a misnomer, a per- 
version, a degrading of the term from its biblical 
meaning. What free-will offerings were, and still 
are, will be shown in its proper place. Even the other 
term " voluntary contributions" is, or at least may 
be, according to circumstances, susceptible of grave 
misapprehensions, and we use it simply to designate 
the system which is known by that name. 

In speaking of the voluntary contribution plan, 
the pastor of a church in New York city says : " In 
a general way, it may be said that the ideal church 
would be absolutely a free church. 



122 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



" Built by a free subscription and dedicated free 
from debt, it would provide for its expenses by free- 
will offerings brought as an act of worship at each 
service. Each member would give each week as the 
Lord prospered him ; no man would know the amount 
of another's gift ; it would be a sacred confidence be- 
tween the giver and his divine Master. 

" This ideal method could be successful, practically 
if the millennium had dawned and all Christians were 
absolutely conscientious and truly devoted to their 
Lord. In practice, men left thus entirely to the do- 
minion of conscience fail as signally in this duty as 
in every other. It is more interesting from a psy- 
chological than a religious point of view to notice 
how many Christians there are who seem to care very 
little that the Lord knows how stingy they are, if it 
is reasonably sure that no one else knows it. 

" When I was in Paris, twenty years ago, the Sun- 
day collections of the American congregation, then 
worshiping in a hired chapel, were gathered in a 
hat. Some shrewd Yankee suggested that it would 
pay to buy open plates. It was done. It was re- 
ported that immediately the contributions were 
nearly doubled. No one meant to be mean, but 
there is an unconscious, involuntary, almost automa- 
tic connection between the publicity and the amount 
of a contribution. 

" If such ideal plan for supporting a church has 
ever been tried, the career of that church has been 
so brief that it has left no history." 

Here is just where the term "voluntary," as applied 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



123 



to this system, is vague and indefinite. All giving 
of tithes, free-will offerings and alms is and ever has 
been voluntary, the same as all moral action. 

If the author of the above means that a congrega- 
tion composed of persons who have no knowledge of 
what amount it is their duty to give, and are left to 
contribute as little as selfishness may suggest, will 
not, under these circumstances, give sufficient to 
support a church, then his last statement is true — 
true to the very letter. But if he means that Christ- 
ians left to the dominion of an enlightened conscience 
will not contribute alike religiously and liberally, 
then his statement tends to mislead, as it is not in 
accordance with facts. Without much mental effort 
we might name at least several congregations where 
the duty of giving is faithfully preached, where all 
contributions are strictly voluntary, and where the 
amount is left for each contributor to determine in 
the fear of God, with a knowledge of the fact that no 
human being shall know whether the contribution 
be much or little. Personal pride, public display, a 
spirit of emulation, business interest — ■ none of these 
have any influence upon the congregation, and yet 
the annual contributions aggregate thousands of dol- 
lars. Let a single instance suffice. 

The New York Observer, in noticing the valedic- 
tory services of Rev. J. D. Beeren, pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church at Summit, N. J., gives the fol- 
lowing account of the congregation : " Mr. Beeren 
is the first pastor, and came to the church in 1871. 
It was just organized with nineteen members, and 



124 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



was without property. Seven years and a half have 
passed. The parish has now a beautiful church 
building and parsonage, and the church has received 
into her membership 102 by certificate and 101 by 
profession of faith. In all, 203 members added to 
the original nineteen in eight years. Remarkable as 
this work has been, yet the most remarkable thing 
about the church is its financial system. They used 
no envelope, had no pew rents, said nothing about 
money matters, and left it to every man's conscience 
to keep him to his duty. The plate was passed 
morning and evening, and by this means they re- 
ceived over §i 8,000 a year. We do not like the plan, 
but we cannot help confessing that its marvelous 
success in those most trying times shows conclusively 
that more depends on conscience and less on enve- 
lopes than we had thought, at least in congregations 
like that at Summit, composed largely of people of 
education." 

In a general way concerning the voluntary contri- 
bution system, it may be said that if introduced when 
no due sense of obligation to the divine command 
already exists, and where the gospel is not clearly, 
frequently and faithfully preached, it will become 
one of the most unbusiness-like, unscriptual and 
unsuccessful of all plans. But, on the other hand, 
if accompanied by a faithful presentation and clear 
understanding of the divine requirements, it may 
then approach, or even attain, to the scriptural 
standard. It is capable of rendering the church, or 
its members, either princes or paupers. A Presby- 
terian pastor says of it : 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 2 5 



" It is a plan that will not run itself. It must be 
constantly pushed, and always be kept before the 
congregation. It is a little apt to weary in the end. 
It has often proved successful when managed by a 
pastor or officer who is an enthusiast in regard to it, 
but as often it has signally failed. As a matter of 
fact, the history of free churches in this city (New 
York) has been disastrous. Among Presbyterians 
they have always failed." 

But few congregations have been sufficiently in- 
structed to use this plan successfully without con- 
siderable machinery, and, therefore, the envelope 
system, with its various modifications, has been much 
more successful. 

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION. 

There still are a goodly number of congregations 
in rural districts and new fields, which seek to pro- 
vide for the support of a pastor and current expenses 
by circulating a subscription each fall, which was 
about the only time in all the year when new settlers 
had any ready money, and would consequently pre- 
fer to pay then for the entire year. But while the 
occasion which begot it has passed away, still the 
horrid practice, after having outlived its usefulness, 
continues to hobble along the decades, yea, and even 
centuries. 

If there is a single thing that can be said in favor 
of this plan, we confess to not knowing what it is, 
unless it be that the little which is accomplished by 
means of it is better than nothing at all. 



126 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



There is much which may be said against the an- 
nual subscription plan. 

1. It almost universally fails to provide the neces- 
sary amount, and leads to questionable methods for 
securing the deficiency. 

2. It leaves the church or its officers to struggle 
each year, and all the time with accruing obligations. 

3. It annually tempts all who have become es- 
tranged from the pastor to withhold their support 
and to use their influence to defeat the success of 
the measure, in order to " starve the minister out." 

4. It induces people to seek occasion to find all 
manner of fault, in order to avoid the payment of a 
just or equitable amount. 

5. It asks in a single payment for an amount, 
which, if paid in weekly installments, would seem in- 
significant, but when asked at the end of the year, 
seems startling. Many who could not pay $5 at any 
one time could readily pay ten cents a week, and 
others who would be able to pay $50 in weekly in- 
stallments, would not think of giving the whole 
amount in a single payment. 

6. It is unscriptural, unphilosophical and unsuc- 
cessful. 

PERMANENT SUBSCRIPTION. 

The permanent subscription does not of necessity 
suffer all the disadvantages of the annual subscrip- 
tion. If it does not leave the time and mode of pay- 
ment optional with each subscriber, but affords some 
reliable guarantee that the money will be forthcom- 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. I 27 



ing in due time to meet the demands of the cause, 
then it may, with judicious management, attain a 
more worthy rank among other methods. 

It is permanent only in that it requires no annual 
renewals. Changes are from time to time to be made 
in the amounts. Each year will witness commercial 
changes. Some of moderate means will grow wealthy, 
while sickness or financial reverses will render others 
less able to contribute. Paul says (2 Cor., viii, 13, 
14), " that he will not have one eased and another 
burdened in these matters, but there is an equality 
— he means a proportionate equality. " Men of large 
property in the church, who wish to obey the word 
of God, do well to remember that a contribution of 
$500 from a man worth $500,000 is far less burden- 
some than one of $5 from a widow whose estate 
would not bring $500. Nevertheless, the widow 
should give her share. And when any member seems 
to be falling below his proportionate equality in bear- 
ing the church's expenses, the church should, in a kind 
and fraternal spirit, call his attention to the subject. 

Because the subscription bears the name of " per- 
manent/' it is liable to be neglected or forgotten. 
This should not be the case, but at least twice each 
year it should be examined with a view to increase 
and additions. 

As the subscriptions do not require annual re- 
newal, the time and labor heretofore expended in 
soliciting funds, year by year, may be turned into 
other channels, the only work needed being for the 
filling of vacancies as they occur. 



128 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



It is always best to make a full estimate of all the 
probable expenses of the church for the ensuing 
year, allowing a liberal amount for contingent ex- 
penses, and then before starting the committee to 
secure subscriptions, it is better to apportion the 
entire amount among all members and attend- 
ants. Each member of every family, even to the 
small children, should be invited to subscribe some- 
thing. In this way the amount will not only be 
greatly increased, but all will be exercised in this 
means of grace, and those who are soon to occupy 
the places of their seniors in the church will be accus- 
tomed to contribute, and future years will reveal the 
beneficent results of this method. By all means have 
the children contribute something. This, however, 
must be done in such a way as to augment the 
amounts subscribed by the oldest members of the 
family, or the church will fall into the pitiable plight 
of being entirely dependent upon the children or the 
Sunday school. 

The church should support the Sunday school, 
and not the Sunday school the church. 

If the results of the subscription are not sufficient 
to meet the estimated expenditure, it is doubtless 
best to renew the efforts at once ; or by general 
consent, secured at first or subsequently, add to the 
amounts already subscribed such a uniform percent- 
age as the circumstances may require. This would 
let the balance fall equally upon all. 

Each subscription is to remain in force until some 
officer of the church shall have been notified in writ- 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 29 



ing, by any seeking release from the amount sub- 
scribed. This is essential, or the church will be left 
with arrearages, by the failure of parties to pay the 
amount the church had a right to expect. 

Collections should be faithfully and regularly made. 
Notices should be sent monthly to those in arrears. 
These may be of various forms. The following is 
a sample : 

« , N, K, December 16, 1S80. 

Mr j 

To the FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, Dr. 

To amount of subscription for support of 
worships beginning April 1, 1880, - S 
Credit by amount paid, 

Amount now due, - - - - - S 



Please pay the Treasurer at your earliest convenience. 

Or, if thought preferable, the congregation may 
be divided into several districts, each of these having 
a collector, who shall keep the accounts of all sub- 
scribers residing in his district, and each of the col- 
lectors shall render a regular monthly statement in 
writing to the treasurer. Care must always be exer- 
cised in the selection of collectors, and all must 
understand that the money is to be paid to the 
treasurer promptly. The treasurer should also ren- 
der a quarterly statement to the vestry of the church ; 



130 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



this may be simply a written statement of amounts 
received and disbursed, or it may be an itemized 
account. Let the money of the church be guarded 
so as to protect the character of the collector and 
treasurer, and this will at the same time protect the 
church. A clear and explicit statement should be 
rendered annually to the congregation ; this should 
be printed and freely distributed. It will more than 
pay the expense, in the rich return of confidence. 
This method may be made : 

1. To provide for the expenses of the church at 
the beginning of the year. 

2. To conveniently furnish the money to meet all 
bills as they become due. 

3. To do away with the necessity of continual, or 
repeated begging, at the stated services of the 
Sabbath. 

4. It may also be made to supersede the necessity 
of oyster suppers, festivals, dramatic exhibitions and 
the like, which, defend them as best we may, are of 
questionable tendencies and attended with damaging 
results. 

5. This method may be made to lead the way to 
the introduction of the envelope system and the 
giving of the scriptural tithe. 

THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM. 

During the past decade the old system of pew 
rentals has been largely superseded by a system of 
regular offerings, placed in envelopes, and at short 
and regular intervals deposited in the collection 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



basket at the stated times of divine worship. The 
system has met with unrivaled success because of 
the flexibility, accommodating itself to the diversified 
wants of the various congregations. It admits of 
adjustment to a system of quarterly, monthly, or 
weekly payments in different churches, or it is suited 
to accommodate all these classes in a single congre- 
gation. It is simple, easily understood by all, and 
may be rendered effective either with much or little 
machinery. It is easily introduced, and meets with 
more hearty approval from year to year. In addition 
it has been more successful in securing the amounts 
necessary to provide for the support of the gospel, 
at home and abroad, than any other system in use 
since the apostate church of Rome, three centuries 
before the Reformation, substituted the unscriptural 
theory of " Competent Maintenance " for the heaven- 
ordained law of the " Divine Right of the Tithe.'' 
Besides these, the envelope system, properly worked, 

1. Is well suited to reach every member. 

2. It secures the small gifts, keeping open the rills 
which enlarge the stream of Christian beneficence. 
It has the correct principle of " small gifts from many 
givers, at regular and frequent intervals.'' 

3. Because of its frequency, it enjoys the advan- 
tage of moral discipline, and serves an excellent pur- 
pose in abating the force of avarice. " Take heed, 
and beware of covetousness." 

4. It elevates giving to its proper place as a part 
of divine worship. 

5. It makes ability the standard of duty. 



132 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



6. It leads each member of the church to give sys- 
tematically, as well as introduces method and system 
into the finances of the church. 

7. The first beneficent result of the system was 
that it secured more " giving ; " but the gradual and 
exalted tendencies are to secure " giving more." It 
seems to us to be the forerunner of the church's 
return to the scriptural standard of giving at least 
a tithe for the support and spread of the gospel. 

The success of the envelope system renders it unnec- 
essary to defend it against the charges of being un- 
serviceable, mechanical, childish or complicated. Its 
continued and increasing usefulness gives clear testi- 
mony in its defense. It remains simply to give a few 
plans, such as may prove suggestive in aiding some 
to perfect a plan already in use, or may aid others in 
introducing the system which has secured such de- 
sirable results elsewhere. 

It might be best for us to remind all that the suc- 
cess of this, or any plan, is in its being thoroughly 
worked. Some strong hand and earnest heart must 
be at the wheel, guiding to a successful issue the in- 
terests of each congregation, or the finances of the 
church, like an unguided vessel, will float in a thou- 
sand directions of shipwreck, and lose the one safe 
and only course which leads to a port. A poor plan 
well worked is better than the best plan poorly 
worked. " The first condition of success is the une- 
quivocal influence of the pastor in favor of some plan 
of systematic giving. The pastor must devise a plan, 
must present it, must advocate it, must get the sane- 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



tion of his church for it, must preach to the people 
about it, and must pray for God's blessing upon it." 

It would be impracticable to lay down arbitrary 
rules. What will answer in one congregation or 
community would prove a failure in another, but 
general principle along with a variety of methods 
will greatly aid in securing a more universal useful- 
ness among the different congregations. An estimate 
— the first step in the introduction of the envelope 
system is to make an estimate of the entire amount 
necessary to meet all the expenses of the ensuing 
year. This should include: I, pastor's salary; 2, 
rent of parsonage ; 3, furniture of parsonage ; 4, for 
aiding the sick and poor ; 5, for sacramental purposes; 
6, presiding elder's allowance ; 7, assessment for the 
bishops ; 8, sexton ; 9, fuel and lights ; 10, water rent; 
11, insurance; 12, interest on debt; 13, reduction of 
debt; 14, repairs; 15, incidentals; 16, a percentage 
for unpaid pledges ; 17, Sunday-school work ; 18, sup- 
port of local missions, etc. ; 19, taxes ; 20, synodical 
assessments (not for missions, etc.) ; 21, any and all 
other expenses to be provided for. These various 
amounts added, will give the sum necessary for the 
work of the year. 

Securing pledges. — The officers of the church, or 
some judiciously selected committee, may apportion 
this amount so as to rest equitably upon all members 
and supporters of the church. The following, taken 
from " Helps to Official Members" by Rev. James 
Porter, D. D., may prove suggestive : 



134 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Dear Sir — The committee appointed to appor- 
tion the amount necessary for the purposes of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for the present 
year among its members and congregation, have con- 
cluded after due deliberation, that you can afford, 
and will be willing to pay the sum of $ . If you 
acquiesce in the conclusion, you will please to pay 
the same in monthly installments, inclosing the 
amount in an envelope, writing your name, with the 
amount inclosed, upon the outside, and depositing 
the same in the basket or box on the first Sabbath 
in each month, when it will be passed around in the 
church to receive these monthly payments. If you 
demur at the apportionment, you will please inform 
A. B., our treasurer, immediately, stating to him 
what amount you will pay in the manner aforesaid. 
Yours truly, 

For the Committee, 

CD., Secretary. 

The pledges may be secured without the appor- 
tionment plan by circulating cards or circular letters, 
something like the following: 

Please deposit this card in the basket with your first envelope. 

/ HEREBY AGREE to contribute 

WEEKL Y, for the support of 

the Church with which I have the privilege of being 
associated. 



, 188 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



135 



** Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him. in 
store as God hath prospered him." 1 Cor. xvi. 2. 

The " Church of the Strangers " depends upon the 
voluntary donations and the subscriptions of its friends 
and members. 

/ promise to pay to the Treasurer of the 
"CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS;' the 
amount stated below, per week, until I other- 
wise direct. 

Name 

P. O. Address 

Weekly subscriptions, % Cts. 

Date, 1st of 

When filled, return to 

F. A. Crane, 

257 Broadway, N. Y. 



X 1— 
r — 



'So hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel shall 
live of the gospel." 1 Cor. ix, 14. 



ki Honor the Lord with thy substance. " "To do good and to communicate, 
forget not." "God loveth a cheerful giver." ''Give, and it shall be given 
unto you." " Upon the first day of the week ... as God hath prospered 
him." 



NINTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. 

FOR SUPPORT OF WORSHIP. 
Beginning April i, 188 

/ will give per week, for one 

year, to the object named above. 

Name 

Residence 

The above subscription will be taken up each Sabbath Morning. Enve- 
lopes for the purpose supplied at the church. 

The Pastor and Trustees earnestly request that EVERY JIEJIBER of 
the church and congregation become a subscriber, and, as far as possible, 
adopt the envelope system of iveekly payments. 



136 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



The reverse side of the card might contain the 
following: 

1. Every believer is bound by the positive com- 
mand of God, to give for His cause. 

2. Each is required to give according to his ability, 

3. Each is to give habitually, as he can thus do it 
most effectively, and that he may constantly honor 
God. 

4. God calls for our gifts as a mark and as the 
measure of our love: " God loves a cheerful giver." 

5. God makes the salvation of our fellow-men 
dependent on our fidelity. 

The other form of circular letter might be some- 
thing like the lollowing: 

To the Members and Friends of the Main Street 
Lutheran Church: 

Dear Brother — The council of the church with 
whom you have the privilege of being associated, 
after a careful survey of the whole field, find that it 

will require the sum of $. . to pay our pastor's 

salary, and to meet all the other expenses of the 
church for the current year. This sum, if divided 
equally among our entire membership, would be 

% per annum, or cents per week for 

each member. This amount, though above the ability 
of some, is doubtless much less than others can pay, 
so that the average may safely be relied upon, pro- 
vided each will give in accordance with the scripture 
rule — " as God hath prospered him " — not less than 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 37 

one-tenth, and as much more as the prosperity of the 
week will enable him. 

To secure this average weekly contribution, and 
to do so, too, in such a way as will be most easy for 
yourselves, your brethren of the church council have 
determined to introduce and to thoroughly test what 
is known in church financiering, as the envelope 
system. 

Hoping that you will cordially co-operate with us 
in this effort, and that as soon as convenient you 
will notify us, by letter or otherwise, of the amount 
you will probably contribute weekly, we have in- 
closed to you, in connection with this circular, a 
package of fifty-two envelopes, each of which con- 
tains your register number, with a blank for date and 
amount of contribution. 

Into one of these envelopes we ask you to deposit 
weekly the amount you feel you ought to give for 
the support of the church, and having dated it, and 
placed on it the amount inclosed, deposit the whole 
in the basket on Sabbath morning or evening. Or 
if you cannot be present at the service, send your 
envelope by the hand of a friend, or else double the 
amount the following Sabbath. And let this be 
done week by week till you have formed the habit, 
like the worshipers of ancient times, of always tak- 
ing with you an offering of some kind when ever 
you appear in the courts of the Lord's house. By 
doing this you will be personally benefited, the treas- 
ury of the church will be able to meet all the demands 
against it, special efforts will be avoided, and the 



133 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



cause of Christ saved from reproach and greatly 
advanced. 

Confidently relying upon your co-operation in the 
plan adopted, we subscribe ourselves, 

Your brethren in Christ, 

The Church Council. 

January I, 1 88 

A SYSTEM UNITING THE LOCAL AND FOREIGN WORK. 

As some persons prefer a system which will pro- 
vide for both the home and foreign work, we present 
in full a system introduced by Rev. W. T. Wylie, and 
known as 

THE BELLEFONTE METHOD. 

There are two sets of cards, or, for greater con- 
venience, one card printed on both sides. On one 
side, under the head of " Support of the Gospel," 
an estimate is made of the money required for the 
year, including pastor's salary, sexton's services, 
Sabbath school work, fuel, light, repairs, etc. This 
divided by 365 gives how much is needed every day 
for the year. This result divided by the number of 
communicants shows the average per day required 
of each. Some, of course, can give far more than 
this average amount, while others fall below it. The 
contributions of friends, adherents and children, in 
addition to communicants, will almost certainly 
secure the average required. 

The second side is for the " Spread of the Gospel." 
No estimate of any amount is placed on this, but 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



139 



each communicant is enjoined to give, as God en- 
ables, a daily sum, to which from time to time may- 
be added as a special contribution what ever the 
giver is able to set apart. Every friend is also in- 
vited to join in this. The sum total of this fund is 
before the session, who appropriate as they think best 
to the different boards and other claims which are 
brought before the church, and report their action 
to the congregation. 

Two sets of envelopes accompany these cards. 
One package of twelve, or one for each month, of a 
dark color, is furnished by the trustees. The other 
package also contains twelve envelopes of a light 
color, the different colors being used to distinguish 
them. 

The cards are distributed to the congregation, and 
given to every member and adherent, and also the 
children of church members. The object is explained 
and each is urged to make his duty a matter of care- 
ful and prayerful study, and then to fill up the blanks 
in each card, sign his name, and return on the next 
Sabbath. It is very important that families so divide 
their contributions that each member, even the little 
child, has some share in the work. 

When the cards are returned, the names are en- 
tered in the treasurer's book, together with the sum 
subscribed by each. Then twenty-four envelopes are 
placed with each card in a neat box prepared for this 
purpose (twelve dark for church support, and twelve 
light for spread of gospel), and given to the person 
whose name is on the card. On the back of each 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



envelope is written the person's name, as on the card. 
At the close of each month every individual places 
the amount of his contribution in the envelope, seals 
it, and drops it into the collection on Sabbath. The 
treasurer opens the envelopes, credits each with the 
payment made, and thus the work goes on to the 
close of the year. 

In case some members of the church have not sent 
in their cards at the first, as is likely to occur through 
delay or carelessness, they should be called on by a 
committee of session for the work of benevolence 
and by a committee of trustees for church support. 

Not one member of the church should be left whose 
name is not enrolled as giving, if only one cent a 
day. 

Advantages of the system. — These are numerous 
and decided, both as to the individual giving and the 
cause. They are even more important in a spiritual 
point of view than in a pecuniary. 

1. Every one is called to his share in the Lord's 
work. 

2. Each gives in the easiest way — day by day, 
little by little. 

3. Each is called to exercise conscience, and act 
habitually as toward God, thus educating himself in 
God's work. 

4. Daily thought and daily prayer are directed to 
our first great work in life — sustaining and spreading 
the Lord's cause. 

5. The session can see just how each member is 
performing his duty. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 141 



6. There is no annoyance from collectors, each 
being his own collector, and the account can be pre- 
pared so that a glance will show how it stands. 

7. The poorest member of the church can do his 
share just as well as the wealthiest, and feel that all 
are helpers of Christ's work, " each as God enables." 

How to introduce the system. — Let the session and 
trustees each examine the method pertaining to their 
several departments. 

It is better to adopt and introduce them at once, 
but if the trustees prefer some other way, the ses- 
sion may adopt and work the scheme for the benevo- 
lent contributions of the church. 

When the plan is decided on, get your cards 
printed so as to have one for each man. woman and 
child in the bounds of the congregation. Distribute 
on a Sabbath when there is a full attendance, and 
collect on the next Sabbath ; be prompt in getting 
all the cards in ; then fill out the treasurer's roll, 
prepare and distribute the envelopes, and keep the 
business up square. 

We append also a brief extract from another very 
excellent development of the same plan, prepared by 
" Z. W. B." and published in the Congregationalist : 

" In our local field we have to provide (1) for the 
public preaching of the gospel in God's house ; for 
the prayer-meetings; for the Sabbath school, and 
for the various other agencies which a live church 
will employ in strengthening itself and in reaching 
the community around ; and (2) for aiding the poor 
whom God's providence has placed among us. The 



142 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



former, including warming, lighting and care of the 
house, pastor's salary, etc., will cost say $5,000. As 
the Master's command is to preach the gospel to 
the perishing, and as the whole tenor and spirit of 
the New Testament shows that He would have the 
poorest and humblest sinner made welcome to come 
and listen to the glad tidings of salvation (' to the 
poor the gospel is preached '), so we would have no 
caste in the house of the Lord (see James ii, 2, 3), 
no exclusive pews, no hired or purchased seats, but 
every seat should be free ; whosoever will may come 
and take of the water of life freely. This will neces- 
sitate regular contributions. If all the three hundred 
persons whose names are on the church records could 
be counted as paying members, thirty-two cents a 
week from each would meet this demand ; but as, for 
various reasons, a large number cannot be so counted, 
let us suppose that two hundred and fifty will be 
regular contributors : then it will take an average 
of thirty-nine cents a week from each. 

" For the relief work and local charities, a com- 
petent relief committee could expend to advantage 
S500 during the year. Four cents a week from each 
paying member will give this." 

The Home Missionary Work, the Foreign Mis- 
sionary Work, the Work Among the Seamen, and 
the distributions of Bibles and religious literature, 
each is presented clearly and fully in a lengthy but 
most excellent circular, and the claims of each cause 
is estimated as follows : 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



143 



L The Local Work : 

For church expenses, per week, - 39c. 
For Relief Fund, - - - - 4c. 



II. The Home Missionary Work: 

For Home Missionary Society, - 2^-c. 
For American Missionary Ass'n, - 2fc. 
For Congregational Union, - 1 c. 
For College and Education Society, 1 c. 



43C 



7c 



III. The Foreign Work: 

For A. B. C. F. M., - 3$c. 

IV. The Work Among the Seamen : 

For Seamen's Friend Society, - - ic.| 

V. The Distribution of Bibles and Relig- 
ious Literature : 

For Bible Society, - - - ic. 
For Congregational Pub. Society, - ic. 
For Tract Society, - - - ic. 

3c 

57*c. 



" This would make the weekly sum for a family 
having two church members (the average number) 
§i.i 5, amounting for the year to 859.80, which is the 
i tithe ' of an income of $598, or five per cent of an 
income of $1,196. There are those among us who 
will undoubtedly (at least for the missionary objects) 



144 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



give twice, thrice, five or ten times the amount 
named. 

" The sum named for the local work (43 cents per 
week, or $22.36 a year for each paying member) will 
of course vary from these figures in those churches 
where the membership bears a different ratio to ex- 
penses. Thus a church having paying members and 
the same expenses would need but half the sum 
named from each. 

" For all the other channels of our work the sum 
named (14J cents a week, or $754 a year, for the 
work in all the world) is the very lowest which will 
pay our debts. And the size of the local church 
makes no difference as to this. It is the minimum 
which the 'paying members ' of any church should 
average. 

" Pledges and collections. — For the efficient accom- 
plishment of the object in view, we would propose 
that the church resolve itself into a missionary 
society. Let the executive committee procure a 
supply of cards something like this below, and dis- 
tribute them to the members and among the congre- 
gation, together with a circular stating the needs of 
the church for the ensuing year. 

WHAT I WILL DO FOR JESUS. 

I will (God prospering me) give weekly at least the 
sum set against my name for the objects mentioned 
below (reserving, however, the right to cancel or 
change this pledge at any time, by due notice to the 
treasurer, should it seem necessary for me to do so) : 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 145 



Cents. 

For church expenses, - 

For our Church Relief Fund, 

For Home Missionary Society, - 

For American Missionary Association, - 

For Congregational Union, 

For College and Education Society, 

For A. B. C. F. M., - - 

For Seamen's Friend Society, 

For Bible Society, 

For Congregational Publication Society, 

For Tract Society, 

For , etc., etc., 

Name « 

Residence » 

After prayerfully and thoughtfully reading the 
accompanying circular, please fill out and sign above 
pledge, and place it in the contribution box next 
Sabbath. 

" On the back of the card should be printed a state- 
ment of the average amount which should be given. 

" Let numbered envelopes be issued to each one 
who shall sign a pledge (every child in the congrega- 
tion should be encouraged to pledge its mite), and let 
the amounts pledged for all the objects be placed in 
the envelopes weekly, and the envelopes be collected 
in the contribution box on the Sabbath. If any one 
wishes to add a free-will offering, either for the gen- 
eral work or for a special object, let him do so, stat- 
ing the amount and object on the envelope/' 



146 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



FORMS FOR ENVELOPES. 
Want of space prevents us from presenting but a 
few forms for envelopes. The following, however, 
may suffice by way of suggestion : 

No January. 

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 
Martin's Creek, Pa. 
TI THE- OFFERING, 

FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL. 
" Trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God." — 1 Tim. 
vi, 17. 

" Remember the Lord thy God, for it is He that giveth thee power 
to get wealth." — Deut. viii, 18. 



yip Inclose the amount regularly, seal, and place in the collec- 
tion basket. 



WEEKLY CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPE 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 



De Pere, Wisconsin, 
FOR PASTOR'S SALARY. 



> The church asks you to give something every Sabbath, g. 
§ " as God hath prospered you " (1 Cor. xvi. 2), to sustain | 
o His cause. Inclose it in this envelope, write your name on o 
Jg it, and drop it in the box in the vestibule or the collection f 
£ box. When you cannot attend, send it. 3 
•a "God Loveth a Cheerful Giver." C. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 



H7 



* Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him 
in store, as God hath prospered him." — 1 Cor. xvi, 2. 

FROM CONTRIBUTOR NO. 22. 

SABBATH, JANUARY 7, 1S80. 

WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION 

TO THE 

FOURTEENTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 

New York, 



" Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him 
give: not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful 
giver.' v — 2 Cor. ix, 7. 

MO NTH L Y OFFERING 

FOR PASTOR. 

Amount, - - - - - - - - $ 



FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, 
Phcenixville, Pa. 

Month , ,188 . 

From. 

THE TREASURER'S BOOK. 
Procure a book properly ruled, with a space on 
the left-hand margin for register number, a second 
space for the entry of names in alphabetical order, 
a third space for the amount of subscription pledged, 
and fifty-two additional spaces for the entry of 



CHURCH KIXAXCfKRING. 



weekly contributions, or twelve for monthly con- 
tributions. " x " 

If desirable, the classes can be arranged separately, 
leaving a hundred lines for each class. The numbers 
of the first class being registered from looto [99; 

the second from 200 to 299, etc., so that the first fig- 
ure of the register number will always indicate the 
class to which it belongs. The register number at- 
tached to a name on the treasurer's book is to be 

placed on the left-hand margin of the class-book, and 
also upon each of the envelopes given him for use. 
Any outside friends that contribute can be placed in 
a class by themselves and registered accordingly. 

Jn entering the several amounts contributed, the 
treasurer will work entirely by numbers, and thus 

will find the task comparatively easy. 

Statements should be sent out to each contributor 
annually, or oftcner, showing the amount received; 

and a full statement of the finances of the church 

made to the whole congregation at the end of the 
year. 

BILLS AND REMEDIES. 

The amounts pledged should not be allowed to 

fall into arrears. If those whose pledges are not fully 
redeemed are called upon at least semi-annually, 
then any discrepancies in accounts can easily be 
adjusted before so long a time has elapsed that pay- 
ments cannot be recalled. 

Bills and reminders may be profitably used, but 



* A very excellent, yet economical book, prepared especially 
for this purpose, may be had of J. K. Funk & Co. 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 149 



care should be taken lest they be used too liberally, 
or in such a manner as to lose their influence in 
accomplishing the desired result. We append a 
couple of forms : 

CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION. 

REMINDER. 

M 

Your subscription appears to be weeks in 

arrears. 

,188 . 



M 

To NINTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, Dr. 

To balance due on subscription for support of wor- 
ship , beginning April 1, 188 . 
Dr. Amount of subscription for . . . .weeks, % 
Cr. By amount paid as per treasurer s book, 

Balance due, - - - - - $ 
Cincinnati, , 188 

Please give this your early attention. 

THE SCRIPTURAL METHOD. 
God would not and most assuredly did not estab- 
lish His church upon earth, making no provision for 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



its perpetuation and support. In the very beginning, 
God instituted the giving of tithes for that purpose, 
and the law of the tithe is as old as the church, as 
old as the institution of the Sabbath, and as old as 
the institution of the sacrifices. It is not only as 
old as these, but is as universal and far-reaching 
as the human race, and its binding force sweeps on 
through each and all the centuries to the end of 
time. 

Our position, then, is that the expenditures of the 
church are to be met by the payment upon the part 
of all people of at least one-tenth of all their income. 

So many are the doubts, misapprehensions and 
difficulties which have grown out of the heresies 
which have been both preached and printed on this 
subject since the thirteenth century, that its full 
and clear presentation will require more space than 
could be given to it in this place, and we, therefore, 
call the attention in the chapter on the " Tithe, 
Free-will Offering and Alms-giving.' ' 

CONCLUSION. 
Rev. George Harris, in presenting a system of 
weekly contributions now in quite general use in the 
State of Rhode Island, urges the necessity of a sys- 
tem and meets some of the objections in the follow- 
ing manner : 

" The preacher may unfold, with the utmost skill, 
the principle that obligation is measured by ability ; 
he may urge his hearers to set apart a fixed propor- 
tion of their income for the Lord, and if one man in 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 5 I 



the congregation adopts his eloquent advice, he thinks 
he has not preached in vain; but let the sermon 
be accompanied by a concise little card which con- 
tains figures and directions, so that a child can un- 
derstand, and there will be hundreds in every con- 
gregation who will respond. Precisely this course 
must be adopted, if giving throughout our congre- 
gations is to be measured by ability. Every church 
must put an actual, definite system, explained in a few 
printed w T ords, into the hands of every man, woman 
and child, before any considerable number will give 
according to their ability. Good intentions cannot 
be trusted ; there must be an existing and visible 
system, and the principle, whatever the details, must 
be the pledge of some amount to be given during 
the year. 

" When new plans of any kind are proposed to a 
church, opposition, or at least reluctance, is sure 
to be encountered. The people are naturally and 
justifiably shy of experiments. Yet some experi- 
ments must be made, and this experiment of sys- 
tematic giving must be made. If the pastor is 
timid, the sytem will not be introduced, or if intro- 
duced, will have only a moderate success; but if the 
pastor exercises good-natured determination, he will 
soon gain the support of the church, and then if he 
presents the subject faithfully, he will be astonished 
to find that so many in the congregation are ready 
to respond, and will blame himself for neglecting 
his duty so long. 

" The earnest support of the pastor is necessary 



152 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



after a vote of the church has been given in favor of 
the new system. He will need in his preaching not 
only to state strong reasons for adopting the plan, 
he will also need to meet objections which different 
individuals w T ill bring forward to excuse themselves 
from making a pledge. More than one will say or 
think/ It is difficult to decide how much to give. I 
do not know what my income will be next year, nor, 
indeed, if I shall have any. It is almost impossible 
in a large business to separate twelve months and 
compute the gains, because so many transactions 
cover a more extended period. Unforeseen expen- 
ditures may be necessary. I do not know what per- 
centage I ought to give, at any rate.' The pastor, 
either in his sermon or in private, must be ready to 
reply. He will say : ' If you are convinced of the 
correctness of the principle, it must be that there is 
some amount which you are morally certain you can 
give. For example, you are doubtful whether or 
not you can give one dollar a week, but you are cer- 
tain you can give half a dollar- — then give that, and 
make additions if you are able. Or, if you can de- 
cide in no other way, give as much as you have been 
in the habit of giving ; get the whole amount and 
divide it by fifty-two for your weekly pledges. If 
you say I do not know how much I have been giving, 
the remark proves the need of system. You ought 
to know. Almost any one can make an estimate of 
usual income and necessary expenses, which, if not 
exact, will be nearly accurate. At any rate, what- 
ever you give, you probably will not err in the 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 53 



direction of excess. The phenomenon has seldom 
been observed of a person who became embarrassed 
by giving too much.' A very good rule to recom- 
mend to such persons, and indeed to all, is that they 
make such a pledge as they honestly think sufficient, 
and arrange their other expenses accordingly. First 
make some proper pledge, and then bring other 
outlays into conformity with it. 

" Some will object that it is too much trouble to 
make these estimates and pledges, and to bring the 
money even- Sunday ; but it will vanish, perhaps, 
when the pastor says : 'That objection I consider to 
be a recommendation ; we have not taken nearly 
trouble enough ; the Lord expects us to take just 
this trouble, and to find it a pleasure. My only fear 
is that you will not take the trouble you ought to 
take, that in some careless fashion you will put down 
fifty cents or a dollar without any thought at all. 
If ladies will take as much trouble as they take to 
match the trimmings for one dress, to which they 
patiently devote two or three mornings, the question 
of how much would be settled, and rightly settled : 
if gentlemen will devote as much time to it as they 
devote to selecting cigars or to choosing a new coat, 
proper decisions would be reached.' 

''Some will object, saying, "what I can give is so 
little that it is not worth while to take the pledge, 
and keep the account.' But the cheery pastor re- 
minds them that one of the chief recommendations 
of the system is that it swells small gifts into a large 
volume, and adds ; * Can you discover that your ob- 



154 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



ligation to give a little, if it is all you can afford, is 
any less real than the obligation of one who can give 
largely? In the parable of the talents, which ser- 
vant was condemned ? It was he who had but one 
talent ; so little that he went and hid it in the earth. 
Among those who cast their gifts into the treasury 
while Christ looked on, who was commended? It 
was the poor widow who cast in two mites, which 
make a farthing/ 

" The pressure of hard times will be urged as an 
objection, to which the undismayed pastor will reply : 
' Don't limit your retrenchments to your benevo- 
lence. It is not very consistent for a Christian to 
stop giving, and keep up all other outlays to the old 
standard/ 

" For those who have had losses and are in debt, 
if they can give anything, it would be with a system, 
for such persons, above all others, should systematize 
their expenditures and benevolence. 

" Any plan that may be proposed will be met with 
some objections. This plan has fewer objections and 
more recommendations than any plan of which we 
know ; but so good a system as this, especially at its 
introduction, must have the unhesitating support of 
the pastor, or it will meet with little favor. But can 
any pastor be satisfied with the shiftless, casual hab- 
its of giving which so commonly prevail ? Is it not 
worth all the trouble he may take to develop the 
latent resources of the congregation ? Any pastor 
who despises the details of practical Christian work 
in his church and devotes himself, as he says, to the 



KEEPING CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT. 1 55 



pulpit, has sadly curtailed his opportunities as a 
Christian minister. The people wait for their pastor 
to take the lead in every good work ; they often 
wonder why he does not devise plans of Christian 
benevolence, and appeal to them in behalf of suffer- 
ing missionaries, and of perishing men and women 
who need the gospel. It is a shame for ministers to 
let their churches go on in the old ruts, giving but a 
fragment of what they might give, while our mission- 
ary societies are struggling with debt, and are obliged 
to withdraw their workers from important fields. 
And so I say that the essential condition for intro- 
ducing a plan of systematic beneficence is the une- 
quivocal influence of the pastors in its favor. An- 
other important condition is the co-operation of those 
who have been the large givers in a church. If they 
hold aloof, success will not be so certain ; but if they 
adopt the system for themselves and encourage their 
children to adopt it, there can be little doubt of sig- 
nal success. 

" If the pastor is an earnest advocate of it, and if 
those who already give adopt it, the system can 
easily be introduced to supplant the careless and 
unequal giving which is now so common." 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. M. 



i 5 6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



CHAPTER VI. 

HOW TO KEEP CHURCHES OUT OF DEBT — NEW 
ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 

IT has truthfully been said that " change is dan- 
gerous/' and to those experienced in the erec- 
tion of new church edifices it is unnecessary to say 
that it is a developing period in the career of the 
congregation which is fraught with difficulties and 
dangers, and often with disasters, either to pastor 
or people, and often to both. It is a time when 
those giving direction to affairs are called upon to 
exercise the utmost wisdom. But the arduous labors 
and perplexing difficulties should not be sources of 
discouragement, they should rather awaken to greater 
effort and increased caution in the work so necessary 
to be accomplished. 

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 

Here in the very beginning let us give a word of 
counsel to those who are to be leaders in carrying 
forward new enterprises. Unpleasantnesses are 
likely to arise, unkind things will be said, and un- 
thought and unwrought plans and suggestions will 
be inflicted upon you, but never, under any circum- 
stances whatever, allow yourself to lose that self- 
control which will restrain you from saying those 
things which will do no good but result in positive 
evil. Never lose your temper. If insulted appear 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 57 



to be too stupid to be aware of it. Remember that 
men often regret what they did say, but seldom 
what they did not say. An insignificant seed when 
left to germinate will sever a rock, so a single ex- 
pression, a word, or even a look, may and often has 
dismembered entire congregations. 

While we would urge upon all such as desire to 
know how to keep churches out of debt the import- 
ance of a careful reading of each of the chapters 
herein presented, yet if this cannot be done we would 
call special attention to Chapter III, page 24, on 
" How Churches get in Debt." In Chapter IV, " A 
Wrong Policy," page 53 ; " Stopping the Evil," page 
57; " Selecting a Committee," page 62; " Sugges- 
tions to Committees " page 63 ; " Making Collec- 
tions," page 66, 

HOW TO PROCEED. 

When a new undertaking is contemplated, the 
whole matter should be presented so as to secure 
the best judgment and most hearty co-operation of 
all persons interested. Although the official board, 
or the trustees, or a committee, are to be intrusted 
with the greater responsibilities of carrying forward 
the project, yet they are only the servants of the 
people, and are dependent upon them for sympathy 
and support. 

Having determined the necessity of a new church, 
parsonage or any other structure, one of the first 
things to be inquired into is, how much money can 
be secured for the object? Much caution is neces- 



158 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



sary just at this point, for many will promise, or 
even pledge much more than they are able ever to 
pay. Enthusiasm is apt to usurp the place of reason, 
and liberal impulses are liable to outrun financial 
ability. Some men will subscribe a thousand dollars 
who never had so much money at any one time. In 
a new enterprise many will follow their zeal, ambi- 
tion, and even their pride, rather than their judg- 
ment. On the other hand again, many will be con- 
trolled by a parsimonious, illiberal spirit rather than 
by a sense of Christian duty. In endeavoring to 
reach such, the committee will need to select the best 
plan, and to go fortified with such arguments as will 
secure the desired amount, and at the same time 
leave the contributor a better and more liberal man. 

WHERE TO BUILD. 

When once it has been determined that a new 
church is to be erected, one of the first things to be 
considered is a proper site. A good location ought 
by all means to be secured. In a city the selection 
is often limited to a choice between two or three 
scanty lots ; but it must be kept in mind in building 
churches, as Bishop Asbury said, " if you are going 
to catch fish, you must either go where they are, or 
where they are likely to come." But there are some 
considerations never to be lost sight of. Let the 
surroundings be such as will awaken only feelings of 
veneration. Often churches are built where the at- 
titude of every building, and the uses to which they 
are employed are such as awaken any thing but rev- 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 59 



erence, because they are discordant to every thought 
of Christian worship. Where circumstances will 
allow, other things being equal, a corner lot is much 
to be preferred, as it will allow the church to front on 
two streets, giving easy entrance and exit, besides 
affording better light and ventilation. Among the 
many other things to be looked after, due regard 
should be paid to a location where the service will 
not be interrupted by the rumbling of wheels over 
the hard pavement of the street, or the noise of 
passing street cars, or railroad trains. Avoid a prox- 
imity to buildings of such a magnitude as will mar the 
architectural proportions of the church by their over- 
shadowing uncomeliness, or will cut off a good supply 
of light and ventilation. Where space sufficient can 
be secured, it is by far preferable to place the build- 
ing back from the street, so as to afford space for an 
ample court. In large cities, where the cost of land 
is excessive, it is not always possible to stand the 
church back from the street, but the effect is often 
marred by this necessity. 

It is often the case that a church site is tendered 
to a congregation free of charge. This may be a for- 
tunate or unfortunate event, according to circum- 
stances. It is sometimes found to be the case that 
some wealthy parishioner desires to improve the 
value of adjacent property by the near proximity of 
a fine church, erected at the expense of others. In 
this way some men try to appear generous, while 
they are purely selfish. In the country, where land 
is comparatively cheap, the church should occupy 



i6o 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



the best site the vicinity affords. Let the space be 
ample, and by all means avoid barren, bleak, treeless 
locations, exposed to the driving storms and winds 
in the winter, and the pitiless heat in summer. Let 
the location be central and desirable, not selected 
because remoteness and barrenness render it cheap. 

When once the site has been determined upon, let 
the architect look over the ground and surroundings 
so that he may submit such a draft as shall be best 
adapted to that particular location, for a structure 
that would be adapted to one location might be en- 
tirely unsuited to another. 

THE PLAN, OR DRAFT. 

Unless you have an abundance of money at com- 
mand, and desire to erect something different from 
the seventy-five thousand church edifices in the 
United States, we would recommend that you be- 
ware of experiments. Select a church which is suited 
to your wants and then use it as a model. Among the 
thousands already constructed, of such various styles 
of architecture ranging in cost from $i 50 to $300,000, 
some one or more w T ill be suited to your wants, " their 
sizes, proportions, materials and cost may be easily 
obtained, and w T ill indicate which is to be preferred 
to others which cost twice that amount. Some of 
them are perfect charms, beautiful, easy to speak 
and hear in, and in every way attractive and inviting, 
while others are as notably defective. It is folly to 
expect any architect to excel the best of them, par- 
ticularly in their accoustic properties. Churches dif- 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. l6l 



fer radically in this particular, and no architect can 
tell why. In some the lowest voice can be heard in 
every part ; while in others of the same size the 
loudest is indistinct, and hearing difficult, if not im- 
possible. The only sure way to success in this re- 
spect is to select a model that has been fully tested, 
and follow it. The importance of this point cannot 
be overestimated. It has more to do with the health, 
happiness and usefulness of the preacher, and the 
size of the congregation than is generally imagined. 
For him to strain his voice to make himself heard, 
and fail, is killing, not only to him, but the people, 
they will soon leave him.""* 

In selecting a model avoid all such as are cold, 
unsocial and unsuited to the true spirit of devotion. 
A church should present an attractive, genial, home- 
like appearance, and yet not lack that which reminds 
us that we are in a sacred place. 

SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACT. 
When the proper model has been selected, in most 
instances it will be found advisable to secure an 
architect to give an accurate draft of every part of 
the building, giving, also, such specifications as will 
include every stick of timber, amount of lumber, 
number of bricks, style of finish, form of pulpit and 
pews, and every thing down to the minutest details. 
This expense and delay will save both time and 
money. It will give the builders an intelligible basis 
for an economical estimate, and then if the contract 



* Rev. James Porter, D. D, 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



is explicit in all details, as it always should be, it 
will protect the congregation against all bills for 
extras. Contract only with reliable parties, and such 
as are able to complete the work withouj; loading 
the structure with builders' liens ; and then, if the 
contract is clear and explicit in every detail, the 
church may be completed without perplexing annoy- 
ances, litigations and final disgust. 

HOW MUCH MONEY TO INVEST. 
Invest all the money you can raise, but not more. 
Build as beautiful and costly a church as you can 
pay for,* but in making your plans, if you would be 
on the safe side, make a full allowance for unredeem- 
able pledges, and double the amount which is esti- 
mated to be sufficient to complete the building. Do 
not build for posterity, for in nine cases out of ten 
posterity will tear down your structure to build one 
more agreeable to its own taste. Build for yourselves 
and leave " posterity " to do the same. Build a church 
to meet your needs, and not one that shall be "an 
ornament to the city/' Among churches we have 
already too many ornaments, and too few which are 
well suited to the purposes for which churches should 
be built. 

THE FINAL COST. 

The cases are rare where the final expense does 
not exceed, to a surprising extent, the figures primi- 
tively stated as the ultimatum. The diversity, of 



* See also Chapter II, 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 63 

course, varies with the foresight exercised by those 
in charge of the enterprise. But it may be stated 
as a rule, to which there are few exceptions, that the 
first estimates fall far short of the final cost. Al- 
though these facts may tend to discourage, they will, 
when properly taken into account, occasion less em- 
barrassment, and be more easily surmounted, " for 
he who is forewarned is forearmed." Where a chapel 
is to cost $1,000 it is often the case that unthought- 
of expenditures increase this amount to twice that 
sum. Where the church is estimated at 840,000, an 
additional $20,000 or $30,000 is usually required to 
pay for alterations in plan, improvements, or to meet 
expenditures required, but overlooked from the first. 
If these facts affright the committee or congregation 
be consoled with the thought that it is better to be 
appalled before rather than after the debt is created. 
Be consoled also with the thought that most congre- 
gations can, with proper management, do from two 
to six times more than the various members antici- 
pated they could possibly afford. 

THE SCRIPTURAL PLAN. 
The first account we have in the Scriptures of any 
building erected for the worship of God, is the taber- 
nacle. The account (Ex. xxxv — xl.) is briefly this : 
When on the mount Moses received from the Lord 
the command to build the tabernacle, which the 
children of Israel were to carry with them as they 
removed from place to place in their journeys through 
the wilderness. 



164 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



"And Moses spake unto all the congregation of 
the children of Israel, saying, this is the thing which 
the Lord commanded, saying, take ye from among 
you an offering unto the Lord ; whosoever is of a 
willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the 
Lord ; gold and silver, and brass, and blue, and 
purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goat's hair, 
and ram's skins dyed red, and badger's skins, and 
shittim wood, and oil for the light, and spices for 
annointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx 
stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for 
the breastplate and every wisehearted among you 
shall come, and make all that the Lord hath com- 
manded." 

" And they came, every one whose heart stirred 
him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, 
and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of 
the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his 
service, and for the holy garments. And they came, 
both men and women, as many as were willing 
hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and 
rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold ; and every man 
that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the 
Lord." 

And the workmen " received of Moses all the offer- 
ing which the children of Israel had brought for the 
work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it 
withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings 
every morning. And all the wise men that wrought 
all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from 
his work which they made ; and they spake unto 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 65 



Moses, saying, the people bring much more than 
enough for the service of the work which the Lord 
commanded to make. And Moses gave command- 
ment, and they caused it to be proclaimed through- 
out the camp, saying, let neither man nor woman 
make any more work for the offering of the sanctu- 
ary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 
For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work 
to make it, and too much." 

" All the gold that was occupied for the work in 
all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the 
offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hun- 
dred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanc- 
tuary. And the silver of them that were numbered of 
the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thou- 
sand seven hundred and three score and fifteen shekels, 
after the shekel of the sanctuary. A bekah for every 
man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the 
sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, 
from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred 
thousand and three thousand five hundred and fifty 
men. * * * 

" And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, 
and two thousand and four hundred shekels." 

Dr. Adam Clark tells us that this would be 4,245 
pounds of gold, 14,602 pounds of silver, and 10,277 
pounds of brass, Troy weight. This, reduced to 
avoirdupois weight, makes nearly ten and a half tons. 
The gold would amount to 8960,002.50; the silver, 
8219,088.64; the brass (at one English shilling per 
pound), $2,487.03, making a total of §1,171,578.17. 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



If we add to these figures the value of the many 
other offerings brought by every one " whose heart 
stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made 
willing/' we may get some idea of the cost of the 
first building erected for the public worship of God, 
of which we have any record. We should also re- 
member that the scarcity of the precious metals at 
that early period rendered them so much the more 
to be prized by their possessors. The gold which 
had been employed in the golden calf had all been 
destroyed, and yet so freely and cheerfully did the 
people respond that they had to be told, as morning 
after morning they came with their offerings, that 
there was already more than enough — " they even 
had to be restrained from bringing." 

There are at least three reasons why such vast 
wealth should have been used in the construction of 
the tabernacle : (a) to impress the minds of the peo- 
ple with the glory of the divine majesty, and the 
estimate which was to be placed upon His service ; 
(b) to convert the spoils which they had brought out 
of Egypt into the blessed means of rendering them 
liberal and cheerful givers, while at the same time 
they unburdened their hands of that which was lia- 
ble to become the occasion of covetousness ; (c) to 
prevent pride and vain glory, by giving for the divine 
service those ornaments of person which would have 
had a direct tendency to divert their minds from 
sacred things. 

Later in the sacred histoty we find that when the 
temple of Solomon was built, the free-will offerings 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 6/ 



of the people were poured in such astonishing pro- 
fusion that we fail to comprehend the value of such 
vast treasures. When David instructed Solomon (i 
Chron. xxii, 14), concerning the building of the tem- 
ple, already he had " prepared for the house of the 
Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold (§2,456,- 
678,125), and a thousand thousand talents of silver 93 
($1,711,383,666). To these, various additions were 
made, until the vast masses of gold and silver be- 
came almost incalculable. The various authorities 
differ greatly. Among the lowest is our own calcu- 
lation of $4,396,606,465. One, of credible author- 
ity, whose estimate is not among the highest, states 
the amount at $35,520,000,000, making 48,000 tons 
of gold and silver. Now, if this latter amount be 
correct, and all this precious metal were to be loaded 
on wagons bearing one ton each, allowing twenty 
feet space for each wagon to move in the procession, 
the unbroken line would reach from New York to 
Harrisburg, a distance of 182 miles. 

If this seems startling, turn to 1 Kings, vi, and vii, 
and read the description of this costly structure with 
" the whole house overlaid with gold," and " the floor 
of the house overlaid with gold within and without/' 
All ordinary things maybe overstated, but there are 
some things so vast that words are crushed beneath 
the freightage which they must bear to convey even 
the idea from mind to mind. Niagara never has been 5 
and can never be described. Words cannot make 
the mountains of Switzerland arise in their towering 
magnitude before the mind, or convey any idea of 



CHURCH FINANCIERING, 



the vast proportions of St. Peter's at Rome. The 
Queen of Sheba had heard very wonderful things 
concerning the beauty of Jerusalem, the glory of the 
temple, and the wisdom of Solomon. The reports 
seemed so exaggerated that she affirmed that she 
could not believe them until she should see them 
with her own eyes, and yet, when she came, she de- 
clared that even half had not been told her. 

What unbounded prosperity and blessing did the 
people of God enjoy when they obeyed the injunc- 
tion : " Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with 
the first fruits of all thine increase ; so shall thy barns 
be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out 
with new wine." 

There was never a moment when obedience did 
not bring affluent prosperity, and when disobedience 
did not bring destructive curse. Never before or 
afterward were such immense exactions called for as 
during the period in which the temple was built. And 
yet there was prosperity, material and spiritual, dur- 
ing that period such as had never been before, and 
never was again. The people came up to the full 
measure of the legal requirements, and God poured 
in upon them material wealth like a mighty river. 
And afterward, when decline came upon the nation, 
in every attempt made to revive it, the people were 
reminded, and every thing was made of the fact, that 
for a long time the offerings had been neglected. 
And the decline was attributed to the divine dis- 
pleasure upon the nation for this neglect. The re- 
minder marks the revival under Hezekiah, and that 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 69 



under Xehemiah, and in fact, every revival and at- 
tempt at revival." * 

REPAIRING THE TEMPLE. 

During the reign of Jehoash, when the temple was 
in need of repairs, Jehoiada had a chest placed by the 
altar of sacrifice, and as the people prayed, they 
proved their sincerity by their offerings for the repair 
of the Lord's house. When Joash, king of Judah, re- 
paired the temple, a chest was made and set "'with- 
out at the gate of the house of the Lord," into which 
the people might cast their offerings ; and u the king's 
scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied 
the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place 
again. Thus they did day by day. and gathered 
money in abundance.'' 

So also during the reign of the good king Josiah, 
the offerings of the people were gathered by the 
" keepers of the door." So it was again, when poor 
and few in numbers, the Jews returned from Babylon, 
they gave liberally and worked faithfully for the re- 
building of the temple. Never was there a debt, but 
provision was made before the work was begun, and 
when the topmost stone was brought on, it was with 
shouting, Grace, grace unto it ! 

SINKING FUND PLAN. 
When a congregation foresees the approaching 
necessity of repairing or rebuilding their church edi- 
fice, they would do well to follow the method pur- 

* Rev. David Cole, D. D. 3 in "Offerings to the Lord." 



170 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



sued by Jehoiada, Joash, Josiah and all others who 
pursue a careful and judicious course. If the money 
cannot all be gathered at once, a fixed amount may 
be laid by at stated intervals until an amount is ac- 
cumulated sufficient to meet the necessities of the 
case. In securing money for a new enterprise the 
people are not so apt to weary of the sinking fund 
plan as in raising a debt, even though it should extend 
through a series of years. 

A working, energetic pastor in the city of New 
York, who had secured the partial use of church 
edifices in which to gather the people for service, 
succeeded in collecting a membership of nearly six 
hundred communicants. The gifts of the poor to- 
ward the fund for the building of a church of their 
own aggregated about $1,500, when the pastor in- 
augurated the following plan. In writing of it the 
author, Rev. G. U. Wenner, says: 

" The details of the plan we will explain. The 
amount required for a church is about $24,000. The 
working members of the church number about six 
hundred. Each member must, therefore, collect or 
contribute about $40. This, it is true, is a large sum 
for poor people these hard times. But we have 
given each member a contribution card containing 
twenty names and asked them to get ten cent con- 
tributions. The object is to get a small contribution 
from a large number of persons, in this case twelve 
thousand. The immediate effort is to enlist the 
hearty support of the entire parish. An immense 
number of persons by a small contribution, become 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. I J I 

pledged, as it were, to the final success of the enter- 
prise. Such a collection can be made without any 
trouble two or three times a year, and in three or 
four years who shall say that we will not have money 
enough to pay for our church ? And then, what is 
better than the money, there will be a large number 
who feel that they have a claim on that church and 
can tell their children : k There, that is our church. 
We helped to build that church/" 

Many of the methods presented in Chapter IV 
could be successfully used in securing a building fund. 
See also the sinking fund plan considered in its rela- 
tion to securing funds for paying church debts, page 

78. 

PASTORAL LETTER PLAN. 

This plan has already been presented on page 84, 
and it remains only to present a specimen adapted 
to securing money for new enterprises, and to add a 
word as to its advantages. 

The following letter was used several years ago by 
a very prominent pastor in the State of Xew York, 
and in response to this letter several times the antic- 
ipated amount was pledged. Good as the letter is, 
the subscriptions which it secured were the result of 
the preaching which had preceded it : 

[CONFIDENTIAL.] 
It is proposed to build a meeting-house and other 
rooms for the use of the church. To do this work 
honestly and well, it is proposed to spend one year 



172 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



in raising a part of the money in advance ; and in 
getting plans and making contracts. 

One 3'ear — plans and contracts, - April 1, 1871, to '72 

" 44 build and cover in, " 1872, " '73 

44 " plaster, finish and furnish, - <£ 1873, " '74 

44 44 pay for in full and dedicate, - 44 1874, " '75 

It is proposed to expend not less than twenty thou- 
sand dollars nor more than fifty thousand — accord- 
ing to the ability shown by the return of these cards 
of confidential subscription. Any member of the 
church and congregation or any friend of the church 
is allowed and invited to subscribe. But no one is 
urged. 

, Pastor. 

To help build our meeting-house I think that I 
shall be able to give 

Not less than $ and 

Not more than $ 

Each year for four years, beginning April 1, 187 1. 

Or I can make in one payment $ 

Trusting in the Lord to help me, I hereby subscribe 
the same as noted above. 

Name 

Residence 

This plan is " free from certain faults which are 
conspicuous in nearly all existing methods. For 
example, it is entirely independent of personal solici- 
tation, which from any point of view is an unmixed 
evil. Contributions for important objects in many 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. 1 73 

of our churches are gathered by two or three self- 
sacrificing individuals, who go from house to house, 
and from office to office, soliciting donations. It is 
a laborious and vexatious undertaking. Those who 
go about on such an errand must falter out apologies 
for intrusion, must often receive ungracious replies 
or refusals, as though they had asked a personal favor, 
and even when received politely, must make some 
sacrifice of self-respect ; and on the other hand, those 
who are solicited have ground of complaint. The 
collector may call at a time when they cannot give 
his claims due attention, they must decide while the 
collector stands before them with paper in hand, they 
must not give less than others have given, or less 
than they gave last year. Personal solicitation is an 
evil which can be truly characterized only by calling 
it a nuisance. It is almost fatal to a genuine benevo 
lence to give only when asked ; and it is a shame to 
send any persons on these begging expeditions, 
whether they are young ladies, who should be for- 
bidden to go on such errands, or the pastors of our 
societies, who ought to be allowed to devote their 
time to better work. Such a system is free from this 
grave objection. Each one decides for himself and 
by himself. He may take a week or two for reflec- 
tion." 

JOINT OWNERSHIP PLAN. 
The joint-ownership plan consists in an agreement 
upon the part of those interested to subscribe to the 
building fund, with the condition that the value of 



174 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



the subscription be returned, upon the completion 
of the building, in a title-deed to one or more pews. 
An opportunity is given to new comers, after the 
edifice is completed, to share in the property by pur- 
chase of pews. A Presbyterian pastor in New York 
city says of it : " This is a safe business arrangement, 
provided — 

" I. That the full amount needed is thus subscribed 
in advance. 

" 2. That the pew-owners will be responsible, each 
for his share of the expense of support, so long as 
they own pews. 

a 3. That the church is not hampered by the terms 
of the title-deeds in regard to the amount of annual 
tax to be assessed. 

"But usually the full amount is not subscribed, 
nor the pews all sold, and the result is : (a) two 
classes of pew-holders — owners and lessees ; (6) two 
grades of assessments. We have known churches 
where the assessment upon pews held in fee was fixed 
forty years ago at an insignificant rate, and thus three- 
quarters of the expenses of the church came upon 
the minority of the congregation, who, as new comers, 
rented pews. (c) Pew-owners leaving the church 
abandon their pews if unsaleable. Morally, and we 
believe legally, they are still under obligations to the 
amount of the annual assessment, but the obligation 
is not likely to be enforced." 

This plan was at one time quite generally used 
among the Presbyterian churches in the State of New 
York, but the principles upon which it rests and the 



NEW ENTERPRISES AXD THEIR DANGERS. 1/5 



difficulties it has encountered has caused it to be 
largely superseded by other methods. 

The objections are : (a) That the success of the en- 
terprise is made to rest upon worldly and selfish prin- 
ciples, rather than upon the scriptural principle of 
giving our offerings and church to God. (b) It is 
likely to occasion much difficulty when the old rights 
of proprietorship are encroached upon by any re- 
modeling of the church, or the replacing of the old 
structure by a new one. (c) Persons who have be- 
come offended, under the protection of their individ- 
ual proprietorship, not desiring to attend worship 
have nailed their pews shut, or taken an axe and 
chopped their seats into kindling wood. 

For a consideration of this plan in relation to 
meeting the annual expenses of the church, see page 
104. 

JOINT-STOCK PLAN 

Had it not been for that which was meant for tem- 
poral wisdom, but which is everlasting folly, no such 
devices as the joint-ownership, joint-stock and other 
plans would ever have been known of. The neces- 
sity of resorting to such means is only a pitiable 
chapter upon the folly of the church in departing 
from the scriptural principles and motives which are 
designed to influence men to do their duty in provid- 
ing structures where they may together worship God. 

The joint-stock plan is simply this: Capitalists 
unite to furnish the money to build the church, and 
in return for their money, accept scrip, or a certifi 



176 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



cate of stock, bearing the legal interest of the State. 
The certificate, or scrip, may be drawn so as to 
create a claim upon the edifice, or only upon the so- 
ciety as such, or upon the members of the society as 
individuals. The interest, to prevent any speculation 
in the stock, may be simply credited upon the pew- 
rent each year, or it may be payable in cash, in which 
event the income of the church would have to be 
sufficient to pay the current expenses and the inter- 
est in addition. 

The objections are: (a) The congregation will not 
own its church home ; (J?) " the stockholders may in- 
clude in their number irreligious men, whose only in- 
terest in the enterprise is a financial one ; (c) the 
church, in the management of its affairs, becomes in 
a measure subject to the stockholders ; [d) the church 
must be a financial success, which fact tends toward 
sensationalism and the valuation of a minister, what- 
ever his character otherwise, by his ability to ' draw,' 
and thus make the stock pay dividends ; " (e) it will 
lack those scriptural principles which will entitle it 
to the divine favor and blessing. 

A CATHOLIC PRIEST'S PLAN. 
Father Maguire, of the Roman Catholic Church, 
gathered a congregation in North Albany, N. Y. In 
two years the little temporary chapel was no longer 
able to contain the audiences, until one Sunday, 
after presenting the necessities of the parish, Father 
Maguire said to his people : " We will build a plain, 
cheap edifice, in which we may have room for every 



NEW ENTERPRISES AND THEIR DANGERS. IJJ 



necessity. Material is cheap, labor is cheap, while 
many poor men will be glad to get employment ; and 
by doing what we can ourselves, we may make the 
burden light. To-morrow evening w T e shall break 
ground. Let each man of this congregation come to 
the church lots on Pearl street, bringing his shovel, 
pick, wheel-barrow, or horse and cart, and we shall 
work together each night until nine o'clock. Thus 
beginning in the name of God, we shall soon have 
made the excavations, and throughout as far as our 
strength or money permits we shall push on the 
work to completion.'' 

At the appointed time about three hundred mem- 
bers of the congregation assembled at the site of 
the new church, armed with pick and shovel, ready 
for work. The pastor, standing in their midst, 
uttered a blessing, and then, as he thrust his shovel 
into the ground, the scene became one of the greatest 
enthusiasm. Shout after shout arose from the as- 
sembled crowd, and the picks and shovels were plied 
most lively. Each evening from seven until nine 
o'clock this work was pushed forward, and when 
Saturday night came that part of the work was com- 
plete, without any comparative cost. In a some- 
what similar manner the remainder of the work was 
carried forward until a church 124x64 stood complete. 
It surely was a sensible and successful method for a 
poor congregation to pursue. 

A GOOD SUGGESTION. 
In repairing and beautifying his church, Rev. J. H. 



178 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Leeser very aptly made such a division of the work 
and expense as would most readily secure co-opera- 
tion. The young men and young women would be 
most likely to labor faithfully for the adorning of 
the church, so they were organized into a committee 
on frescoing. The younger members of the congre- 
gation were to secure the money for paying the 
plasterers. The ladies secured the money for the 
new carpets, and the older members of the church 
paid the painters and built the new fence. Each of 
these classes had its own treasurer and an executive 
committee, of which the pastor was always chairman, 
and to secure harmony of action, there was also a 
general committee, composed of one of each of the 
separate committees. The effect was stimulating to 
each department, and the result most satisfactory. 
Among others, there is one most excellent feature 
in this method, and that is that it sets every one at 
work. If you want your people interested in the 
church, give them something to do. 

OTHER PLANS. 
As much that relates to the subject of how to keep 
new enterprises out of debt has already been pre- 
sented in Chapter IV, on " How to Pay Church 
Debts," we refer the reader to that department of 
our subject. 

The advantages and disadvantages of the sub- 
scription plan, together with forms, etc., will be found 
on pages 60-62. Note Subscription Plan, page 67. 
Tax-list Plan, page 72. Apportioning Plan, page 



NEW ENTERPRISES AXD THEIR DANGERS. 1 79 

74. Share Plan, page 75. Envelope Subscription 
Plan, page 76. Helping Plan, page 82. Monthly 
Collection Plan, page 87. Defrauding Plan, page 
89. Church Entertainment Plan, page 91. 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. 



i8o 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



CHAPTER VII. 



HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR MISSIONS AND BENEV- 



HE ends to be attained by means of the benefi- 



cence of the church are the grandest in the 
accomplishment of which man is permitted to co- 
operate. In saving the world we become co-laborers 
with a God who declares himself as " a God of order." 
Harmony of action, therefore, demands that the 
human part of the work should be undertaken and 
carried forward orderly and systematically. Busi- 
ness men who aim to accomplish any considerable 
result prudently incorporate in their plans much of 
system. The church should not be less prudent, for 
the vast work to be accomplished calls for organized 
and systematized effort. 

In our own country many of the Western States 
and Territories are almost destitute of religious in- 
fluences, to say nothing of the destitute districts in 
our large cities and open country. The isles of the 
sea and nations of the earth are to receive the Word 
of God at the hands of our beneficence, or remain 
in heathen darkness and spiritual death. The church 
of Christ is to accomplish a gigantic work, with, most 
glorious results, and to this end there must of neces- 
sity be orderly arrangements and systematic work- 
ings. 



OLENT WORK. 




RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS 



iSi 



Some are wont to ignore and others to decrv 
system in bringing the church up to her privilege in 
this matter, and prefer to leave it to the impulse or 
inclination of those who give. They regard the re- 
sults of successful church work as the child regards 
the motion of the hands across the face of the clock — 
having no idea of the hidden motive power and the 
relation of nicely-adjusted spring, lever and wheel 
to moving hands. The unthinking and untaught 
see nothing to suggest order in the arrangement of 
the earth and heavens,, but the student of God's 
handiwork stands with awe and reverence as investi- 
gation reveals the svstem of crystal, laver and strata, 
or as science draws aside the curtain of night to 
reveal group, cluster, nebula and ulterior systems, 
each moving with such nicety of adjustment that 
not the fraction of a second is lost in the onward 
course of the centuries. 

The crippled financial condition of the religious 
boards and charitable societies is a natural result of 
the lack of system in securing the contributions of 
the individual members of the various denominations 
of Christian workers. Giving will not become 
systematic of itself. It must be made systematic ; 
and this implies order and method. Too many con- 
gregations have absolutely no system at all. Others 
adopt such methods as gnaw at the very heart, and 
kill every principle of true benevolence. Any plan 
which parades names and amounts, and seeks to in- 
duce people to contribute because it will be blazed 
abroad, or prompts one to contribute an amount 



182 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



equal, or greater, than that given by another, that 
they may appear more generous in the eyes of the 
world, is false and ruinous in its effects. There is no 
objection to publicity, if publicity is not made the 
motive power in obtaining the contribution. When 
Christ said, " Let not thy left hand know what thy 
right hand doeth," He did not mean that our giving 
was to be kept a secret. He meant that the right 
hand should not steal around to the left, and shaking 
it furtively, whisper behind your back: " How gen- 
erous I am ; how liberal I was just now." But our 
Lord meant that the right hand should know what 
it is itself doing. He did not say, " Let not thy right 
hand know what thy right hand doeth." He meant 
u don't keep telling yourself how generous you are." 

GIVING TO CHRIST, NOT TO SOCIETIES. 

To the great mass of contributors the blessedness 
of giving is entirely lost. They are caused or per- 
mitted to feel that they contribute to maintain some 
struggling enterprise of Christian work. They do 
not give, as to the Lord, and therefore regard the 
act as one of merit. In the benevolent operations 
of the church we seem largely to overlook the fact 
that God does not of necessity call upon individual 
Christians for pecuniary, or any other sort of aid 3 in 
the prosecution of His work upon the earth. He 
might employ angels to herald His gospel, or trace 
His will upon the heavens in characters of unfading 
light. If He saw fit He might speak the word and 
the unearthed treasures of California would be at 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



183 



His service. He might demand, and the wealth of 
the world would have to be laid at His feet. 

Some seek to evade their duty to contribute to 
the support of foreign mission work by arguing 
within themselves that the results, as compared with 
the money and lives invested, are not sufficient 
to prove the " experiment " of Christianizing the 
heathen a success. Christ says : " Go ye into all the 
world and preach the gospel to every creature ;" and 
as His followers we are simply to do as He commands. 
With the result we have nothing to do. God will 
take care of His part of the work. Christ does not 
ask for our opinion, but for our money — not for 
missions, but for Himself. If we give to missions, or 
church extension, or bible, or tract society, we would 
look to them for our reward, which we will never re- 
ceive. If we contribute as directly unto Christ, in 
an act of solemn worship, we may look to Him for a 
reward which He will never fail to bestow. When we 
contribute as unto Christ we shall be ashamed to offer 
Him a dime when we should come with dollars. We 
shall not withhold for fear the money will not be 
properly applied or judiciously expended. If we 
give to Christ we shall look to Him, and not to com- 
mittees, to direct and use it, If we deposit it in 
Christ's purse, and Judas steals it, the responsibility 
is not with us. We have given it to Christ and 
there our responsibility ends as far as the duty of 
giving is concerned. 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



WHERE MOST METHODS FAIL. 

The failure of most methods is due to the fact that 
they fail to reach the masses. When large revenues 
are to be secured in any government, it is done by 
imposts and duties so levied as to reach all classes. 
The vast revenues necessary for the support of the 
various governments are drawn from the masses of 
the people, and perhaps the greater burden is usually 
borne by those in more moderate circumstances, and 
by the poorer classes. The experiment, attempted 
soon after the close of the war, of paying our national 
debt by the voluntary contributions of the rich 
proved a signal failure, and so will all attempts prove 
which seek to provide for the work of the church by 
the contributions of the wealthy few. Take another 
illustration. What was the result of the income tax 
inaugurated during the war? The principle upon 
which it was based was to tax the larger incomes 
with higher rates of percentage than was levied upon 
smaller incomes. It was a system of partial taxation. 
It was simply compelling a few to pay a special im- 
post as a penalty for working harder, and exercising 
such industry and economy as enabled them to save 
more than their neighbors. Its influence was so inju- 
rious, and the returns so meagre, that it was soon 
abandoned. It did not reach the masses, and proved 
a false and ruinous principle in the securing of na- 
tional revenue. 

The great secret of the financial power of the Ro- 
man Catholic Church consists in the fact that rich 
and poor are alike expected to contribute of their 




The New Mount Zion A. M. B. Church, 
Trenton, N. J. 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 1 85 



means, In this country their members are largely, 
if not almost altogether, of the poorer classes, and 
yet their resources are surely not very limited. 

Next to spirituality, the rapid growth and spread 
of Methodism is due to the skill manifested by John 
Wesley in marshaling every man, woman and child 
for individual work and personal endeavor. As an 
organizer and efficient systematizer, John Wesley is 
without a superior in civil, military or ecclesiastical 
life, and because of his organic skill and methodical 
workings, his followers were called metkod-ists. 
Their watchword was, " justification, sanctification, 
and a penny a week." It has hitherto proven itself 
one of the most efficient, Christian institutions of 
modern times, and in so far as they shall become 
opulent and forgetful of their primitive, methodical 
principles and their " penny-a-week " system, shall 
they slacken their progressive pace and lose their 
evangelistic efficiency. 

If we turn from the practice which has secured 
success to consider our duty as Christians, we shall 
find that there is no escaping from individual per- 
sonal responsibility in the act of giving. Each and 
every Christian is as much expected to use this as 
any and every other means of grace. Each member 
of every Christian family is required to contribute. 
After children are old enough to pray and to under- 
stand somewhat what worship is, the parents can no 
longer worship God for and in the place of their 
children. This can be done only by each particular 
member of the family for himself or herself, as indi- 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



vidually responsible to God. The wife also is ex- 
pected to contribute as well as the husband. No one 
can worship for hen The treasury of the temple was 
in the women, and why exclude women from this 
means of grace now. 

As homage and worship is due to God from all 
creatures of His hand and care, so those who are 
strangers to the covenants of promise are as much 
bound to the observance of giving, as an act of wor- 
ship, as they are bound by the commands and love 
of God to the observance of each and every act of 
obedience and worship. 

The Levites gave to the priests a tithe of all the 
tithes they received from the people. Christ gave 
the didrachma, or half shekel of the sanctuary, for 
himself and Peter. The Apostle and first preachers 
of the gospel, as they freely received, did freely give. 
Besides these examples, there is no reason why min- 
isters can any more dispense with this means of 
grace than with any other. The people are entreated 
to use this means of grace, and the repeated appeals 
to secure money for the support of objects toward 
which the solicitor does not of his individual means 
contribute alike liberally, causes irritation and en- 
genders hostility. The pastor should lead the flock 
into the green pastures of God's blessing, and beside 
the still waters of His grace. All are to worship 
God with their substance, without distinction of sex, 
race, rank, class, calling, condition or ability ; and 
whether the gift be much or little, God will deter- 
mine " according to that a man hath, and not ac- 
cording to that he hath not." 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



I8 7 



RESULT OF SYSTEM IN GIVING. 

In presenting some of the results of system in 
securing the contributions of the churches, let us 
consider: I. The effect upon the cause; and, II. 
The good which results to the individual contributor. 

I. Let us take a church of three hundred and fifty 
members, and let us suppose that each of these mem- 
bers can lay aside a fraction over three cents a day. 
" How many days in the week do most of us let that 
amount slip through our fingers without knowing 
whither it goes, and without feeling the outlay ? We 
have thus twenty-five cents a week, or $13 a year, 
from each member. This would give us from com- 
municants alone $4,550 annually. Now supposing 
one-fifth of this number, or seventy members, can 
lay by fifty cents a week. This adds $17.50 a week. 
And supposing that one twenty-fifth of this number 
could contribute a dollar a week. Fourteen mem- 
bers would thus add $546. This gives us from com- 
municants alone $6,006 ; and the heaviest amount 
paid by any individual would be $52. When you 
reflect that there are those who annually contribute 
from three to ten times that amount for the benev- 
olent objects of the church alone, you find the 
amount running up very rapidly. For instance, let 
us say that in addition to their $52, there are five 
men who give §200 a year among the various col- 
lections, and there is $1,000 more — 87,006 from the 
communicants only. And now we will go outside 
of these three hundred and fifty communicants. 
Let us assume that there are one hundred and fifty 



188 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



persons, not members of the church, who can and 
will give twenty-five cents a week, and we add 
$1,950, making a total of $8,956, and still $252 is 
the largest amount given by any individual. 

" This estimate is made for a strong and prosper- 
ous church, and is purposely within bounds. The 
church in question could raise this amount on that 
simple plan and never feel it. Any pastor, know- 
ing the ability of his congregation, can easily make 
a similar computation according to the number and 
means of his people. And in any case he will find 
that the people will be astonished at his figures, 
which will show them how a little system will enable 
them to double, and sometimes to treble, their con- 
tributions without feeling a burden/' * 

After the introduction of a regular system of 
weekly offerings for benevolent purposes by the Con- 
gregational churches of Providence, R. I., in writing 
of the results of the plan, Rev. George Harris says : 

" The youngest church in Providence, the Pilgrim 
Church, adopted the system in 1875. In 1874, that 
church had contributed for all objects, $479. In 1875, 
by the method of weekly offerings, its contributions 
amounted to $1,686.97, about four times as much, 
and in 1876, to $2,397.97, five times as much. The 
Union Church adopted the system in 1873, and has 
the credit of introducing it. The amount given by 
that church the previous year was $3,540.88 ; in 1874 
to the same objects, $5,064.69; and since that time 

*Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D. D., in " How Much and How to 
Give." 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



189 



the amount has increased still more. The Central 
Church of which I am pastor, adopted the system in 
October, 1876. Our contributions during the pre- 
ceding year were $3,600; last year the weekly offer- 
ings amounted to $7,674.11. The number of givers 
in the Union Church increased from 62 to 187, and 
then to 210; in the Central Church from 95 to 283. 
This large increase of givers and of gifts has been 
made during a period of business depression which is 
almost unprecedented, and when nearly every family 
has suffered pecuniary loss, directly or indirectly ; 
vet all are ready to continue as thev have be^un, 
and even to make some addition to the amount 
given." 

It is evident that a good system would : 1, secure 
larger contributions ; 2, it would reach the one-half 
or two-thirds who now give nothing at all ; 3, it 
would substitute principle for impulse ; 4, it would 
diminish the expenses of benevolent societies by do- 
ing away with the present necessity of sending out 
solicitors and agents; 5, it would enable the boards 
and various benevolent societies to go forth in their 
might to accomplish the great work assigned to them. 

II. The results which would come to the contribu- 
tor from the faithful use of a plan of constant giving 
are very numerous : 1. he would enjoy all the tem- 
poral blessings which God has promised to such as 
are faithful stewards of His material wealth ; 2, it 
would abate the force of avarice ; 3, it would convert 
into a source of pleasure, as Mr. Peabody said to a 
rich man: " It is sometimes hard for one who has 



190 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



devoted the best part of his life to the accumulation 
of money to spend it for others ; but practice it and 
keep on preaching it, and I assure you it comes to be 
a pleasure ;" 4, it would increase the giver's means of 
usefulness ; 5, systematic giving tends to cultivate ex- 
actness and system in the t r ansaction of business, 
and thus to secure success ; 6, it will quicken a more 
earnest desire for the conversion of all men ; 7, it will 
aid in counteracting every influence which would 
lead to dishonesty in business ; 8, it will, if used in 
the right spirit, prepare the contributor for God's 
blessing in time and eternal happiness in heaven. 

But the custom of universal worship in giving ac- 
complishes another grand result in addition to in- 
creasing the facilities of the church and enlarging her 
usefulness. Each contribution increases the interest 
of the contributor in the church and her charities. 
England could pay her national debt if she desired, 
but her policy is not to pay. By having a national 
debt a safe investment is afforded for the people, and 
on account of this money invested in the govern - 
ment, each and every bondholder is made to feel an 
abiding personal interest in the stability and pros- 
perity of the government. When a subject of the 
crown purchases a portion of the national loan, it is 
not as though he paid his money to purchase for him- 
self an enlarged patriotism. The same principle 
holds true in church. The men who care little or 
nothing whether the particular church with which 
they are associated is built up or down town, are they 
not almost without exception those who contribute 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS 



I 9 I 



little or nothing toward the support of the church ? 
They have no treasure there, neither have they any 
heart there. Those who contribute most, in propor- 
tion to their ability, purchase most interest in the 
success and usefulness of the church. Augustine says: 
" We give earth and receive heaven. We give the 
temporal and receive the eternal. We give things 
corruptible and receive the immortal. Lastly, we 
give what God has bestowed, and receive God Him- 
self. Let us not be slothful in such a commerce as 
this. Let us not continue poor." 

ANNUAL COLLECTION PLAN. 

Some congregations have such an awful sense of 
the local needs of their church,, and such a horror of 
collections for general church work, that what little 
conscience they have left as to their duty in this 
matter is quieted by once a year combining the va- 
rious objects into one collection, which has been 
aptly termed the '''omnibus*' plan. It lessens the 
number of collections, and diminishes the amounts to 
the least possible fraction. 

Every pastor has heard the question, or in his 
work been treated as though the question were asked: 
" When will this incessant begging for money cease? 
It is call upon call, now for this, now for that, and 
I am sick and weary of it." More ask the question 
than those who put it into words. 

" The answer is as easy as the question. It will 
never cease. It is a part of the law of the situation. 
While there remains an heathen on earth, an unfaith- 



192 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



ful Christian, a sick man, soul sick or body sick, an 
orphan child, a cripple, an outcast, a wretched crea- 
ture anywhere with any wretchedness, the demands 
will still be made, and they will still be answered 
worse or better. 

"When all men on earth are blessed, when the 
sunlight of heaven gilds the hills and valleys of the 
world, and wraps the blue seas in eternal calm, then 
may men rest from their working and their giving — 
not before/' 

Solicitors are too timid just at this point. Each 
cause should be presented separately and heroically, 
and in such a manner as to commend the cause to 
the favorable consideration of every honest mind 
and earnest heart. Let there be no shrinking back 
from duty, no cowardly apologies, no cold indiffer- 
ence. The home church is dependent upon the 
heathen, as much as the heathen, or any other needy 
cause, is dependent upon them. In giving God de- 
signs a greater blessing to rest upon the giver than 
upon the recipient. " It is more blessed to give 
than to receive." In the act of contributing God 
contemplates not only the building up of His king" 
dom in the world, but the building up of His kingdom 
in the heart of the individual contributor as well. 
The churches which live only for themselves, regard- 
less of others, invariably decline, while those which 
reach out a helping hand to save others, save them- 
selves. It is stated that " fifty years ago thirty 
Baptist churches in the State of Maryland declared 
themselve-s opposed to missions., while two alone 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



193 



stood in favor of them. The two increased to thou- 
sands, while the anti-mission churches dwindled away 
till they now number not more than seven or eight 
persons." How often we see the Scripture verified : 
" There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and 
there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it 
tendeth to poverty." 

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION. 

The annual subscription is a modification of the 
annual collection plan. Annually the subscription 
is circulated among the congregation on Sabbath, or 
a solicitor goes from house to house during the week. 
These subscriptions are placed in a common fund, 
and then apportioned by the pastor or council to 
the various objects. This putting all benevolent 
objects together, and then attempting to do the 
work of any entire year in a single act, is as absurd 
as it would be to take the bread, and meat, and 
potatoes, and all the other food required for an en- 
tire year, and placing it all together, attempt to eat 
it in a single meal. 

The disadvantages of this method, or want of 
method, are evident : 

1 . It is inadequate in the amounts which it secures. 
If the church will repent of its sin and return to the 
ordained law of the tithe, the condition of the.whole 
world will be revolutionized. The discovery of the 
law of gravitation, or of electricity, or the applica- 
tion of the power of steam, or the laws of sound — 
none of these, nor all of them combined, have 



194 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



wrought greater changes in philosophy, or in the 
physical condition of man, than would be wrought 
in the life, energy and efficiency of the church and 
the spiritual condition of the world, by a return to 
God's methods for the accomplishment of God's 
work. 

2. It allows selfishness and covetousness to acquire 
over-mastering strength. Constant giving tends to 
abate the force of avarice, but these annual plans 
nourish the besetting sin of the church, and give to 
"covetousness, WHICH IS IDOLATRY/' the seal of 
orthodoxy and respectability. 

3. It affords no opportunity for presenting this 
great cause of the church, and awakening in the 
minds and hearts of the people that interest which 
will enlist their prayers for God's blessing upon the 
objects toward which they are asked to contribute. 

QUARTERLY COLLECTION PLAN. 
The quarterly collection is a great improvement 
upon the annual method, but it lacks that element 
of frequency which would enable it to bring the 
church to its standard of duty and privilege in giv- 
ing. If some cause is to be presented quarterly, and 
simply a basket collection is to be taken, the system 
has numerous defects. Some will absent themselves, 
and others will be unavoidably absent when the col- 
lection is taken. Stormy weather, sickness,. absence 
from home on the part of members, and other causes, 
will have a damaging effect upon the collection. If 
the cause be missions, and the day be pleasant, and 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



195 



the house full, under the inspiration of the occasion 
and subject, the pastor " may talk so long that some 
would lose interest and rive scarcely anv thing. 
Some may have sustained losses during the week, 
which make them feel poor on that particular Sun- 
day, while on another Sunday, after a prosperous 
week, they would feel generous ; one has left his 
pocket-book at home : another has forgotten to bring 
money." These and other difficulties have to be 
met. 

QUARTERLY SUBSCRIPTION PLAN. 

We append a plan which has overcome many of the 
difficulties of the usual quarterly basket collection. 

On the Sabbath appointed, let the envelopes be 
placed in each seat, or distributed by the deacons 
or a committee, to each member or part of a family 
represented in the congregation, not omitting any 
visitors. The form of the envelope may be suggested 
by the following : 

'• They shall nor appear before the Lord empty; every man shall 
give as he is able." — Deut. xvi, 16. 17. 

BENEFICENCE. 

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." — Matt, vi, 20. 
"To do good and to communicate, forget not," — Heb. xiii, 16. 

RETURN THIS ENVELOPE NEXT SABBATH. 

The envelope should contain a card like the follow- 
ing, or the same may be printed entire on one side 
of a slip of heavy paper : 



196 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



FOR BENEVOLENT PURPOSES. 

" Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of 
all thine increase/' — Prov. in, g. 





Dollars. 


Cents. 


















Total, ----- 



See other side. 



(REVERSED SIDE OF CARD.) 
Take this card home, and during the week prayer- 
fully consider the claims of the cause presented in 
the accompanying tract. Let every member of the 
family, in the spirit of Christian liberality, subscribe 
* something; and whether it be much or little, God 
will determine " according that a man hath, and not 
according to that he hath not." When all have sub- 
scribed, add up the amount, place this card together 
with the money in the envelope, seal and return next 
Sabbath. 

The cards are not to be inspected by others, but the 
pastor will keep a complete record of all contributions, 
and admonish such delinquents as neglect or but par- 
tially use this means of Christian growth in grace. 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



I 9 7 



" There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and 
there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it 
tendeth to poverty." — Prov. xi, 24. 

The envelope and cards are suited to any collec- 
tion, but the accompanying tract should set forth the 
cause for which the collection is asked. The tract 
should be brief, like the following : 

(TRACT.) 

THE COLLECTION NEXT SABBATH. 

THE EDUCATION OF MINISTERS. 
One of the regular objects toward which the Gen- 
eral Synod or Conference asks its members to con- 
tribute is in aiding young men in the very important 
work of preparing for the gospel ministry. To say 
nothing of the ever-increasing demand for ministers, 
it is necessary that a goodly number should contin- 
ually be preparing to take the places of the 55,000 
ministers who are yearly giving their lives in the 
preaching of the gospel. In the single year of 1879, 
thirty-one Lutheran ministers died in the United 
States. It may be supposed, then, an equal number, 
as per ratio, of other denominations die also. The 
average age of these was fifty-six years. Taking 
this as a fair index of ministerial longevity, 2,115 
ministers would be necessary annually to take the 
places made vacant by death and infirmity, and an 
equal number to fill the vacancies caused by death 
in other denominations. It is but right that the peo- 
ple for whose spiritual and eternal good this great 



198 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



armv of Christian ministers are using 1 their talents 
and giving their lives should assist the needy young 
men who are being fitted in mind and heart to fill 
the places made vacant by death and superannuation. 

Many of these young men are poor, and without our 
aid would never be able to enter the sacred office to 
which they feel that God has called them. By with- 
holding from them the already insufficient stipend, 
the church would be cutting off the very hands which 
are to feed and minister to her. Let us not be de- 
ceived ; these young men and the church are mutually 
dependent. Each needs the help of the other. The 
benefaction is not all on one side. 

Shall Christ say to you and to each member of 
your family: " Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as 
ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my 
brethren, ye have done it unto me ? " 

On the Sabbath that the envelopes are distributed 9 
a large card, printed in large, clear type, should be 
suspended in front of the pulpit. 

(CARD.) 

BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS 

NEXT 

LORD'S DAY. 

The following Sabbath when the envelopes are 
returned, lest any may have forgotten the collection 
or left their envelopes at home, extra envelopes 
should be left in the seat or in a convenient place, and 
the following card suspended in front of the pulpit. 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS 



(CARD.) 

BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO-DAY. 

These cards should be not less than two feet long 
by fourteen inches broad, or one card may be made 
to serve the double purpose by having it printed 
upon both sides. 

This system is also well suited to be used monthly. 
All that is necessary is to change the tract to suit 
the object, the envelopes and cards being the same 
for all objects. 

Advantages, — The advantages of this plan are: 
(a) It secures a subscription instead of a basket col- 
lection, and that without any delaying of the congre- 
gation after service. (&) It secures thoughtful, intelli- 
gent giving, as it affords a means of knowing the needs 
of the cause, and give an entire week to consider 
the subject and decide upon the amount to contrib- 
ute, (c) Each member of the family is requested 
and expected to subscribe something, and this exer- 
cises and disciplines the young in this grace also. 
(d) It enables the session, or the pastor, to know 
just how each member of the church is discharging 
this Christian duty. (Y) It affords a means of know- 
ing who the absentees are, so that if desirable they 
may be called upon privately, (f) The greatest 
thing to be said in its favor is that it has succeeded 
wherever faithfully tried. * 



* The cards and envelopes, printed and ready for use, may be 
had of I. K. Funk & Co. 



200 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION PLAN. 

The superior principles of the monthly plan, after 
what has been said on the foregoing plans, requires 
no comment. We append a number of forms and 
methods : 

A Circular Letter. — The method of sending out 
a circular letter at the beginning of the year, setting 
forth the needs of each board and asking for a sub- 
scription, which shall be paid monthly, has proven 
successful in many churches. 

One form of circular letter, after presenting the 
claims of the various boards, contains the following 
blank: 

I will contribute monthly for 
Foreign Missions, - - - - - $ 

Home Missions, ------ 

Beneficiary Education, 
Church Extension, 
Pastor s Fund, 

Dollar Money, ------ 

Etc., etc., 

Name 

Address 



Please fill out the above and send it to the Pastor at as early a 
date as possible. 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS, 



20I 



(Another form.) 
ANNUAL CIRCULAR. 

PLAN OF 

SYSTEMATIC CONTRIBUTION 

OF THE 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF TRENTON, N. J. 
This paper is to be retained by the subscriber. 



Time. 

" 


Object. 




Amount. 


ist Sabbath in January, - 
3d Sabbath in January, 

ist Sabbath in February, 

ist Sabbath in March, - 
ist Sabbath in April, - 
3d Sabbath in April, 
ist Sabbath in May, - 
ist Sabbath in June, 
ist Sabbath in July, - 
3d Sabbath in July, 
ist Sabbath in August, 
ist Sabbath in September 
ist Sabbath in October, - 
3d Sabbath in October, 
ist Sabbath in November 
ist Sabbath in December, 


Board of Foreign Missions, 

Deacons' Fund, - 

( The Commissioners' and Contingent 

•< Fund of the General Assembly, and 

( the Session Fund of this Church, 

Board of Education, - 

State Mission Fund, - 

Deacons' Fund, - - - - 

Board of Publication, - 

Sunday Schools, - 

Board of Church Extension, 

Deacons' Fund, - 

Freedmen's Fund, - 

Disabled Ministers, - - 

Deacons' Fund, - - - - 
Domestic Missions, - 
Bible Society, - 









Contributors can send their money to the Treasurer of Session if they have 
not deposited it in the collection box. 




202 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



(REVERSE SIDE OF CIRCULAR.) 

The object of the Board of Foreign Missions is to 
send the gospel to the foreign world and to the Indian 
tribes within our own territories. 

That of the Board of Education is to aid poor and 
pious young men in obtaining an education with a 
view to the ministry, and to aid in the religious in- 
struction of our children and youth. 

The State Mission Fund is intended to meet the 
calls of Presbytery for assistance to mission churches 
within the bounds of the State. 

That of the Board of Publication is to print and 
circulate throughout the country a sound and health- 
ful religious literature. 

That of the Church Extension Committee is to 
aid in the erection of Presbyterian church edifices 
throughout the country. 

That of the Freedmen s Fund is to sustain missions 
among the freedmen. 

The fund for Disabled Ministers, etc., is disbursed 
by a committee of the trustees of the General Assem- 
bly, to aid disabled ministers of our church who are 
in want, and the needy widows and orphans of our 
deceased ministers. 

That of the Board of Domestic Missions is to send 
the gospel to the destitute regions of our own coun- 
try, and to aid in sustaining our feeble churches. 

Suggestive figures. — Where it is desired to raise a 
fixed amount for benevolence it is very desirable that 
the pastoral letter should contain some suggestive 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



203 



figures which will enable the people to see how the 
work can be done, and also to aid them in arriving 
at their duty in the matter. Let us suppose that 
with a congregation of six hundred and fifteen mem- 
bers, it is desired to raise $10,000 or $12,000 for 
benevolent w T ork. This amount will startle most of 
the members, and yet the following table will render 
the problem quite a simple one : 

5 persons giving $5.00 each amounts to $25.00 per week, or $1,300 per 



20 
30 
50 
100 

200 
50 

615 



3.00 
2.00 
1.00 

.50 
.25 

.20 
.10 

.05 



30.00 
40.00 
30.00 

25.00 
25.00 
30.00 
20 00 
2.50 



1,560 
2,080 
1,560 
1,300 
1,300 
1,560 
1,040 
13° 



$11,8 



Schedule of monthly collections. — In some churches 
a printed schedule of collections is tacked up in the 
front of each pew : 

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 

ON THE LAST SUNDAY IN EACH MONTH. 
I88l. 

January, - - Foreign Mission. 

February, - - Diocesan Missions. 
March, - Orphan Asylum. 

April,- - - Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund. 
May, - - - Parish Sunday Schools. 

June, - - - Diocesan Convention Fund. 
July, - - - Religious Publications. 

August, - * Diocesan Missions. 



204 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



September, - 
October, 



- Bishop's Salary. 

Theological Education. 



November, - - Domestic Missions. 
December, - - Parish Library. 

" Remember the Lord thy God, for it is He that giveth thee 
power to get wealth." — Deut. viii, 18. 

Or the year may be divided into sections, " appro- 
priating to each board as many consecutive Sabbaths 
as its comparative importance seems to demand, and 
appropriating all the sums received within this period 
to it. This gives a specific time to each board, and 
affords the opportunity to the pastor for stating the 
objects, operations and wants of each scheme of the 



The weekly contribution method, connecting the 
offertory with each public service, possesses many 
excellent features. " When, in 1842, the Free Church 
of Scotland was, by a quick stroke, cut off from gov- 
ernmental support, and had at once to provide for 
church buildings, manses, salaries, schools, colleges, 
the poor, church extension at home, foreign missions 
and all, it did so by returning to a system of weekly 
offerings. " 

(a) It makes giving a part of the regular worship 
of the sanctuary : " They shall not appear before the 
Lord empty; every man shall give as he is able." 
(6>) It is frequent, and crystallizes impulse into prin- 
ciple, (c) It reaches all who attend upon divine 



church. 



WEEKLY CONTRIBUTION PLAN. 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



205 



worship ; it is far better for the churches and the 
cause of religion, to have $500 paid by one or two 
hundred persons, than to have the same amount paid 
by one or two wealthy individuals, or even by twenty 
or thirty ; it is not simply to secure the people's 
money, but to render the people more unselfish 
and more like Him who gave even Himself for us. 
(d) It exercises the people in a Christian grace. 
The apostle says : " See that ye abound in this grace 
also." 

A basket collection. — The following plan has been 
in successful operation in the Shady Side Presby- 
terian Church, Pittsburgh : 

"A contribution for the benevolent work of the 
church is taken every Sabbath morning". From these 
funds the following specified amounts are deducted, 
viz. : For the support of the Sabbath School, $12.50 
per month ; for the ' Commissioners' and Contingent 
Fund of the General Assembly/ the Sessional and 
Deacons' Fund of our own church, $25 per month ; 
for the support of missions within the bounds of 
our own city and Presbytery, from $8 to $12 per 
month, at the discretion of the session. The bal- 
ance of the funds are distributed monthly to the 
several boards and committees having charge of 
the benevolent work of the church, under the 
General Assembly, on the basis of the following 
schedule : 



206 CHURCH FINANCIERING, 





Per cent 


Foreign Missions, - 


25 


Home Missions, 


20 


Sustentation, 


IO 


Education, - 


10 


Church erection, - 


IO 


Freedmen, - 


IO 


Publication, - 


5 


Ministerial Relief, 


10 



" The session reserves the right to set apart the 
Sabbath for the purpose of taking a collection for 
any special object they may deem proper — the con- 
gregation always to be notified in advance of said 
purpose. Any person desiring to contribute directly, 
or to make a special contribution to any object, 
whether in the above list or not, is permitted to do 
so by accompanying their contributions with a card 
indicating their wish/' 

The pastor, Rev. William T. Beatty, says of it : 
"The above plan has more than met the expecta- 
tions of the congregation ; it has secured larger con- 
tributions than we ever realized before; it has been less 
burdensome ; it has given every opportunity for the 
presentation of the claims of the boards, and it has 
supplied a fund from which the officers of the church 
can meet the assessments of the higher judications, 
and from which they can draw for such other ex- 
penses as are legitimate without the necessity of a 
separate appeal, or a special collection." 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



207 



As congregations ought to know not only the 
needs of any object, but also what they are giving to 
aid it, it is suggested to pastors that they should 
publicly state the amount received on the Sabbath 
following a collection, so as to satisfy a desire for in- 
formation, to stimulate benevolence, and to afford 
matter for prayer, humility and thankfulness. Also, 
that, before every public collection, blank cards and 
pencils be placed in every pew for the use of those 
not prepared with money. A collection is often 
doubled in amount by this simple precaution. At the 
public collections for the several boards a much larger 
amount than usual can often be raised by giving the 
congregation a definite object to accomplish. State 
how much is desired for the object. 

An envelope plan. — In 1873 an envelope system of 
weekly offerings was introduced into the Congrega- 
tional churches of Providence, R. L, which secured 
the most satisfactory results. We present the plan 
as given by Rev. George Harris in the Congregation- 
alist in November, 1877. 



208 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

(CARD.) 

BENEVOLENT OFFERINGS 

OF THE 

CENTRAL 

congregational church and congregation 
Providence. 



oi 
02 

03 
04 

05 



10 

15 

20 

30 



50 



1 00 



2 00 



5 00 



Please mark with an + in the column on 
the left the sum you are willing to pledge as 
a weekly offering to the Lord, for the year 
beginning October 1, 1876 (using a blank 
space if you select a sum not mentioned). 

Write your name and residence at the 
bottom of this card, and deposit it in the 
contribution box on the following Sabbath. 

A package of small envelopes will then be 
furnished you (one for each week). 

Each Lord's day inclose the amount of 
your weekly offering in the envelope which 
bears that date, and place it sealed in one 
of the boxes at the doors of the church. 

In case of absence for one or more Sun- 
days, inclose the whole amount due with 
the next offering that is made, and destroy 
the envelopes that have not been used. 

This pledge being purely voluntary, may 
be recalled at any time by giving notice to 
the Committee. 



Name. 



10 00 I Residence. 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 
(CARD, REVERSE SIDE.) 



209 



s 


I. 


Foreign Missions. 


s 


2. 


Home Missions. 




3- 


American Missionary Association. 




For Freedmen. 


s 


4- 


Cause of Education. 


s 


5- 


Sabbath-school. 


s 


6. 


Women s Board of Foreign Missions. 


s 


7- 
8. 




s 
s 


9- 


General Fund. 


s 







Please indicate how you wish the sum total of your 
offerings for the year to be divided, by marking above 
against the names of such objects as you may select 
the amount you wish to give to each. The sum total 
of your offerings for the year will be fifty-two times 
your weekly donation. 

All gifts not otherwise designated will go into the 
General Fund, to be disposed of by vote of the Stand- 
ing Committee of the church. 

Gifts designed for any special object, and marked 
with the name of the object, can be placed in the 



210 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



boxes at the door (with or without donor's name), 
and will be forwarded to their destination. 

This system of weekly offerings has been adopted 
by the church, and the hearty co-operation of all 
members of the congregation, both young and old, 
is cordially invited. 

Each one is given " a box containing fifty-two 
small envelopes, dated October I, October 8, October 
15, and so on to the end of the year. Every Sunday 
he incloses the amount he has pledged and drops it 
into the box as he enters the church. If he has 
been absent, the envelopes tell their own story; he 
sees that some have not been used, and incloses the 
whole amount due in the envelope for the day. 

" This system secures the small gifts of a congre- 
gation, and swells them into a large volume. For 
nine persons in ten it is easier to give twenty-five 
cents a week than to give $13 once a year — it is 
easier to give $1 every week than to give $52 
at one time. How much do you think the con- 
tributions of five cents a week amounted to in 
my church last year? Fifty-eight persons gave 
five cents a week, and the sum total was $150.80. 
If one should go out to get $150 from gifts of only 
five cents, he would say I do not know people enough 
to give it. Fifty persons gave ten cents each every 
week, and the sum total of their offerings was $260 — 
$260 in ten cent pieces. Thirty three persons gave 
twenty-five cents each week, and together gave 
$429, and the entire amount given in sums ranging 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 211 

from one cent to twenty-five cents was $1,119.84. 
Thirty-two persons gave fifty cents each week, and 
their total was $832. Fourteen persons gave $1 each 
week, and together contributed $728, while the 
whole amount in sums of from one cent to $1 a week 
was $3,094.14, and was given by two hundred and 
sixty-two of the two hundred and eighty-three givers. 
Those w r ho gave more than $1 a w r eek were large 
givers before, although their gifts increased under 
the new system ; but I have very little doubt that 
nine-tenths of the $3,000 was clear gain ; that but 
very little of it would have been gathered into occa- 
sional collections. Here is a weighty argument in 
favor of the weekly system, and although some of 
the givers made sacrifices, it is likely that a great 
majority were scarcely aware that they had given 
any thing. A capital mistake in our ordinary 
methods is that the few give and not the many ; 
while the large streams of benevolence flow, the 
small rills are not kept open. Those who, by a small 
gift each week, might contribute a fine sum in a year, 
practically give nothing. It is apparently not worth 
while for collectors to visit those who can give but 
a few cents, or if they should, shame or pride would 
keep many from putting down their names for a small 
sum." 

For an envelope system uniting the current ex- 
penses of the church with the benevolent contribu- 
tions, see the Bellefonte method, page 138. 

Another form. — Some persons may like the fol- 
lowing form, beginning it with a dedication or pledge: 



212 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



FORM OF DEDICATION. 
After due deliberation and prayer, I do hereby re- 
cord the resolution I have made, to lay up the sum 

of weekly, to be expended on 

religious and benevolent objects. Out of this sum 
I have determined to give to the under mentioned 
objects the amount attached to each. 

(Signed) 

1880. A. B. C . 





Dollars. 


Cents. 


For the support of my pastor, 
For the poor of my church, 
For the Bible Society, - 
For Foreign Missions, 
For Domestic Missions, - 
For Board of Education, - 
For Sabbath-school purposes, 
For Board of Publication, - 
For Church Extension, - 
For Widow's Fund, - 







Weekly offerings (gathered monthly). — Weekly offer- 
ings may be indicated upon a card and placed in an 
envelope to be gathered monthly by collectors, who 
shall meet together to report and pay the money to 
the general treasurer. For convenience, the congrega- 
tion may be divided into sections. While making 
collections, the committee should at the same time 
distribute the cards and envelopes for the ensuing 
month. The reverse side of the card, given below, 
should present in brief the object of the various funds 
for which money is solicited : 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



213 



(CARD.) 

" Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." — Matt, vi, 20. 
"To do good, and to communicate, forget not." — Heb. xiii, 19. 
" Trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God." — 1 Tim. 
vi, 17. 

" Remember the Lord thy God, for it is He that giveth thee 
power to get wealth." — Deut. viii, iS. 

" Freely ye have received, freely give." — Matt, x, 8. 

" Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him 
give: not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful 
giver." — 2 Cor. ix, 7. 





Lord's Days of a Month. 


Total. 


1. 


2. 


3. 


4. 


0. 


Foreign Missions. 














Domestic Missions. 














Education. 














Publication. 














Church Extension. 














Disabled Ministers. ! 












Freedmen. 














Sabbath-school. 












Poor. 












Sessional Fund. 














Total, 





























214 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



(ENVELOPE FOR CARD AND CONTRIBUTION.) 

GIFTS FOR THE TREASURY OF THE LORD 

ON THE 

FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. BUFFALO, N. Y. 

Q£ir To be called for at the close of the month. 

PLANS FOR DAILY OFFERINGS. 

During the past few years a system has been in 
successful operation in many of the Presbyterian 
congregations, which is known as the 

Foundation fund plan. — The plan is this : (a) Each 
communicant who is willing to contribute at least a 
cent a day, each day in the year, is enrolled and called 
upon monthly ; also, all attendants who are not mem- 
bers, and children, (b) The congregation is districted, 
and fifteen contributors assigned to each collector, (c) 
The collectors, who are usually the Christian women 
of the church, act under the direction of the pastor, or 
a special treasurer appointed by the session, and col 
lect, report and pay over the money monthly, (d) The 
total amount collected is apportioned to the various 
boards by the session, (e) The regular stated collec- 
tions on the Sabbath are taken up as usual, thus afford- 
ing an opportunity to all who are able to contribute 
more than at the " foundation rate v of one cent a day. 

" The plan has some special advantages: .(a) It 
reaches every communicant. It is not, however, 
asked as a tax, but as a means of constant exercise 
in the grace of giving, (b) It secures in each congre- 
gation mutual acquaintance and visitation, and brings 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



215 



to notice worthy cases of want or sickness, (e) It 
secures a large increase of benevolent funds, and 
keeps the people constantly in sympathy with the 
great agencies of the church, (d) It is flexible, being 
capable of a change in the definite amount contrib- 
uted daily, the mode of collecting and the reception 
of extra offerings by the collectors, without disturbing 
the principle which lays at the foundation of the plan. 

This plan needs an efficient person to supervise 
and instruct the collectors, and one who will devote 
to it the time and perseverance necessary to render 
any plan a decided success. 

DIRECTIONS TO COLLECTORS. 

1. Collect in the first week for each month, at the 
rate of one cent a day, and mark the amount paid in 
the proper column. 

2. If any one wishes to give more than at the rate 
of one cent a day, make a memorandum of such 
additional sums on the page provided for them, and 
place the total amount of these sums for the month 
on the line marked miscellaneous. 

3. If for any reason it is necessary to receive for 
more than one month in advance, mark the amount 
paid in the column of the month for which you are 
collecting, and cross the columns of the succeeding 

full months paid for, thus, . Any balance less 

than a full month, credit to miscellaneous, the same 
as with sums over the foundation rate. 

4. Inclose the total amount in the printed envelope, 
and return to the treasurer monthly, at such time 
and place as he shall direct, with such written re- 
marks as may be needed for his information. 



2l6 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



(collector's CARD.) 



DISTRICT No... e 


January. 


< 

Oi 
E 

r W 

Col'ct 
28 cts. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


No . 

I 

2 

3 
4 

_5_ 

6 


Name. 


Col'ct 
31 cts. 


Col'ct 
31 els 


Col'ct 
30 cts. 


Col'ct 
31 cts. 


Col'ct 
30 cts. 


Col'ct 
31 cts. 

































































































7 

S 

9 

IO 

ii 


















































































12 


















13 

I4_ 
£5_ 


















































Miscellan's gifts. 


















. 

Total, - - 

















RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 21J 



(COLLECTOR'S CARD.) 



August. 


2 
i 
% 

VI 


1 


1 

i 

> 


i 

s 

p 


Total. 


RESIDENCE. 


Col'ct 
31 cts. 


Col'ct 
30 cts. 


Col 'ct 
31 cts. 


Col'ct 
30 cts. 


Col'ct 
31 cts. 


Xo. 


Street. 




— 








■ — 



























— _ 



















































































































































































































— 






i 























2l8 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

( REVERSE SIDE OF COLLECTOR'S CARD. 



Collector s Memorandum of Miscellaneous Gifts. 



January. 


February. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


June. 














< 
0 













July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


November. 


December. 














< 

r- 

C 

H 











RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 2ig 
(FORM OF ENVELOPE FOR COLLECTOR.) 



Received, 
• from 
No 


Dollars. 


Cents. 


REMARKS. 


I 








2 








7 - 








4 








5 








6 








7 








8 








9 








IO 









1 1 








12 








13 








14 








*5 








Misc. 








Total 






Inclosed and sealed. 



Collector s Report for Month of, 
District No 



Collector. 



220 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



ANOTHER PLAN, 

Rev. Herman S. Cook, pastor of the Lutheran 
Church of Lyonville, Penn., has met with more than 
ordinary success in raising money for benevolent 
work. Concerning his method, he writes : 

" By earnest, patient, personal effort, we have intro- 
duced a system of contributing to the benevolent 
agencies of the church, which has resulted in greatly 
developing this important branch of church work. 
Each member of the church, male or female, old or 
young, rich or poor, is requested to give something 
every day to the cause of Christ — a definite sum, if 
it be but one cent, or more or less. One or two 
cents a day are much more easily and readily paid 
than $3.65 or $7.30 a year, and daily blessings call 
for a daily thank offering to God. On the first Sun- 
day of every month, the contributions for the month 
just closed are handed in in envelopes, sealed, num- 
bered and dated, and a complete record kept of the 
contributions of each member. In this way almost 
every member is reached, and contributes frequently, 
regularly, deliberately, and, we trust, prayerfully, as 
the Lord has prospered him or her. Before this sys- 
tem was introduced, the contributions of the Lyon- 
ville congregation aggregated from $100 to $150 a 
year. The system has now been in operation almost 
two years, and during the last twelve months has 
resulted in an average contribution of $24.60 per 
month, an aggregate of $295.37 for the year, an 
average annual contribution of $3.28 per member. 
This in a country congregation of ninety members, 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS- 



221 



of only average wealth, at a time when their home 
expenses were largely increased by extensive repairs 
to their church, and thev had also during; the year 
liberally contributed to the endowment fund of Penn- 
sylvania College. 

"We believe this sytem to be one of the very 
best, and sufficiently flexible to be adapted to any 
people under any circumstances." 

THE BOX-SYSTEM. 

Some years ago, a box-system was introduced 
among the churches of the General Synod of the 
Lutheran church. It consisted of a neat little box 
with an opening, into which a regular offering was 
to be placed each Sabbath morning. The boxes 
were returned quarterly to the pastor or committee, 
and the contents given consecutively to Foreign 
Missions, Home Missions, Church Extension, and 
Beneficiary Education. After removing the con- 
tents, the opening in the bottom of the box was 
again sealed and returned to the owner, whose name 
was indicated by the number of the box. They were 
neatly gotten up, adorned with appropriate Scripture 
passages, and for a few years it did efficient service. 

CONTRIBUTION BOXES AT THE CHURCH DOOR. 

In some churches contribution boxes are put up 
in conspicuous places, at the end of each aisle, or at 
the church door. These are for contributions to 
special objects, which are designated upon a card 
tacked in the front of each pew, or stated from the 



222 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



pulpit before dismissing the congregation. This 
plan is more generally used by congregations where 
large numbers congregate for worship each Sabbath, 
as at Spurgeon's church in London, England, and 
others in this country. These boxes are used gener- 
ally in connection with the regular basket collections. 

PRIVATE TREASURY FOR OFFERINGS. 

The most liberal and at the same time the most 
cheerful contributors are those who statedly lay aside 
into a private treasury that portion which they design 
for support of the gospel and benevolent purposes. 
The most cheerful contributor we have ever had 
among our own people was one who kept a purse, 
which he called the Lord's purse, into which at 
regular and frequent intervals he placed a part of 
his income for benevolent purposes. No worthy 
cause was turned away efnpty. Each member of 
his family were life members of the American Bible 
Society ; every one who labored for him were made 
life members of the County Bible Society, and in 
like manner he contributed to all benevolent objects. 
It is really refreshing to meet such men. R. L. A. 
Gotwald, D. D., in writing of one with whom he 
had been associated in a former charge, says : 

" I often asked him for contributions toward vari- 
ous benevolent objects, and was never rebuffed or 
refused, his only question ever being ' How much 
ought I to give ? ' Sitting with him in his office one 
day, and conversing on this subject of benevolence, 
I said in substance to him : ' Mr. W. I often ask you 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



223 



for money for religious and charitable purposes, and 
you always give, and give liberally. May I ask you 
how you manage to be able always to do so? Have 
you a plan or system in your beneficence ? ' Turning 
in his chair and pointing to one corner of the room, 
he said to me : ' Do you see that safe ? In that safe is 
a secret drawer. The drawer is marked 1 The Lord's 
Drawer.' Into that drawer, at the end of each week, 
I deposit, as nearly as I can estimate it correctly, 
the one-tenth of all that I have made during that 
week. I do this as" regularly and systematically as 
I attend to any other business transaction — for that 
I regard also as business, my business with the Lord. 
Having once thus deposited money in that drawer, 
I then regard that money as no longer in any sense 
mine. It is the Lord's. I am simply the custodian 
and disposer of it. And hence when you, or any 
other of the Lord's accredited agents call upon me, 
and say that the Lord sent you here for some of His 
money in my hands, it is the easiest thing in the 
world, and a real pleasant thing also, to go right 
there to that drawer, and pay out to the Lord His 
own money, not mine, but His. That, sir, is my 
plan, and that is how I always have something to 
give. How much did you say you wanted to-day? " 

Surely no better method could be devised which 
will enable the contributor to give " heartily as unto 
the Lord." 

PLEDGE OR COVENANT. 
The biography of eminently pious and useful men 



224 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



since the Reformation shows that great numbers 
have recognized the obligation steadily to devote a 
portion of their income to charitable uses. Lord 
Chief Justice Hale, Rev. Dr. Hammond, Baxter, 
Doddridge, and others, regularly gave a tenth ; Dr. 
Watts, a fifth; Mrs. Rowe, one-half; Rev. John 
Wesley, when his income was thirty pounds, lived 
on twenty-eight and gave two, and when his income 
rose to sixty pounds, and afterward to one hundred 
and twenty, he still lived on twenty-eight, and gave 
all the remainder. Mr. Nathaniel R. Cobb, a merchant 
connected with the Baptist church in Boston, in 1821, 
at the age of twenty-three, drew up and subscribed 
the following covenant, to which he faithfully adhered 
till on his death-bed he praised God that by acting 
according to it he had given in charity more than 
$40,000 : 

" By the grace of God, I will never be worth more 
than $50,000. 

" By the grace of God, I will give one-fourth of the 
net profits of my business to charitable and religious 
uses. 

" If I am ever worth $20,000, I will give one-half 
of my net profits ; and if I am ever worth $30,000, I 
will give three-fourths ; and the whole after $50,000. 
So help me, God, or give to a more faithful steward, 
and set me aside. 

" N. R. COBB." 

ANOTHER FORM. 

Knowing that all things come of Thee, O, Lord, 
and acknowledging my obligation to devote at least 



RAISING MOXEY FOR MISSIONS. 



225 



one-tenth of all my increase to religious purposes, I 
hereby prayerfully, deliberately, and cheerfully cove 
nant, as Jacob of old, that " of all that Thou shalt 
give me, I will surely give the tenth to Thee/' 

Name 

Date 

We appeal to all Christians to adopt some method 
by which they may accurately ascertain the amount 
of their income, and then religiously to devote at 
least one-tenth to sacred uses. " This is the rent 
which reminds the tenant that he is not owner in fee ; 
this is the interest which reminds the borrower that 
the principal belongs not to him ; this is the tribute 
money which reminds a subject nation that it is not 
independent ; this is God's share to remind His crea- 
tures that all belongs to Him." We are simply stew- 
ards, and at last we must render an account of our 
stewardship. 

One thing is certain, we must either do more, or 
stop pretending to pray for the conversion of the 
heathen. Our gifts do not prove the sincerity of our 
prayers. We should come with our hearts near our 
lips, and lay our wealth at Jesus' feet. Let us not 
be like the farmer, who, with cribs filled with corn, 
was accustomed to pray that the wants of the needy 
might be supplied ; but when any one in needy cir- 
cumstances asked for a little of his corn, he said he 
had none to spare. One day, after hearing his father 
pray for the poor and needy, his little son said to 
him: " Father, I wish I had your corn." " Why, 



226 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



my son, what could you do with it?" asked the 
father. The child replied, " I would answer your 
prayers/' The theology of the child was eminently 
practical. " One of the most common reasons why 
prayers are not answered is because the life is not in 
harmony with the prayer. Prayer is too frequently 
offered as a substitute for neglected duty. If ye pray 
for the conversion of the heathen and unsaved, and 
yet send them not the message of life, this prayer is 
unacceptable and unavailing with God. Yet such 
prayers are very common. It is one of the greatest 
evils in the church. It costs less sacrifice to offer earn- 
est prayer than to do self denying work. It is when 
the tithes are brought into the store-house that God 
promises to pour out a blessing that there shall not 
be room enough to receive. The reason of prayer 
being unanswered is always to be found with the 
suppliant, and never with the Great Giver of all good, 
who is ever nigh unto all them that call upon Him — 
to all that call upon Him in truth." 

CONCLUSION. 
Christ's last command to the church is, " Go ye 
into all the world and preach the gospel to every 
creature." Have we done it ? Are we doing it ? In 
the years past, the church failed to do her duty in 
this respect, and He who said, " Behold, I have set 
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it," 
came in His might and closed the door. One port 
after another was closed to missionary effort. All 
human endeavor was vain. " He that hath the key 



RAISING MONEY FOR MISSIONS. 



227 



of David/' " He that shutteth and no man openeth," 
had shut the door. The church was like Israel's 
doubting hosts. One day God opens Canaan ; they 
do not enter ; the next day when they would enter, 
the door is shut, the cloud moves not, the Ark of 
the Covenant accompanies them not ; they go up 
essaying to enter, only to turn back falling before 
the foe. So has the church been turned back from 
the lands which have been promised to her as clearly 
as Canaan was promised to Israel. But now, after 
long years, God has again opened the door. Again 
Christ is saying to the churches, that if He be lifted 
up, He will draw all men unto Him. If the church 
will enter now, no obstacle can impede her progress. 
No power upon earth is strong enough to close the 
door. Glorious success awaits the cause of Christ. 
This is the auspicious "to-day" in the cycles of 
God's all-w r ise providence. No longer let the myriad 
mites, which make the mighty millions, be lost for 
want of proper and necessary system. Restore the 
offertory to its appointed place in the family, the 
Sunday school and the church. Never did the prec- 
ious opportunities, which God opens, call more im- 
peratively for the adoption of such measures as will 
secure scriptural beneficence among all classes. 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. M. 



228 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE SABBATH COLLECTION. 

IT is really not surprising, that the basket collec- 
tion at the regular service on the Sabbath should 
amount, as they generally do, to comparatively noth- 
ing at all. " Alexander the Coppersmith " has done 
the collection much evil too, and yet again and again 
we hear this essential part of worship stigmatized, 
and belittled, and profaned, and made despicable by 
calling it the "Penny Collection." That name alone 
is enough to kill it. A man who speaks of the gath- 
ering of the offerings of the people as the " taking of 
a penny collection, " is guilty of a sacrilege. It is 
speaking irreverently of that which is as sacred as any 
other part of the worship of the sanctuary. Under 
the Jewish system, no worship was complete with- 
out a gift, and the act of giving was itself an act of 
worship. When David and the princes of Israel 
assembled to make an offering for the building of 
the temple, their prayers and offerings ascended to 
heaven together, and when Solomon dedicated that 
temple his great prayer and great offering, of twenty 
and two thousand oxen and an hundred and twenty 
thousand sheep, came up in gratitude together before 
God. Now, however, this essential part of worship 
is not only slighted or treated with disrespect, but 
some have even ejected the offertory from the 



THE SABBATH COLLECTION. 



229 



house of God. Nor are they content with their sacri- 
lege, but proclaim their shame in the public print by 
concluding their " religious notices" with the an- 
nouncement of u no collection." Oh, what a relief 
to the worshipers to be permitted to worship an 
entire hour, consoled by the sublime thought that 
at the close they are not to be annoyed by a collec- 
tion or have their devotions disturbed by the jingling 
of money on the plates. Any minister who ejects 
the offertory from the sanctuary is guilty of sacri- 
lege, and if he proclaims it, is guilty of heresy ; and 
if he were expelled from the sacred office of the 
ministry, would only receive what his conduct so 
justly merits. 

This course is the result of a desire to gratify the 
wishes of a sordid, stingy, covetous few, who know 
nothing of the grace of giving. Martin Luther said, 
that a man had to be converted three times, first his 
head, then his heart, and then his pocket-book. To 
say the least, these people need the third conversion, 
and might be much improved by a little more of the 
other two. When professing Christians find them- 
selves getting so near heaven during the sermon that 
they cannot get back in time for the collection, they 
may safely regard themselves as deluded — the diffi- 
cult up-hi\\ work attests the direction with great 
suggestiveness. 

Another reason why the collection is not a success 
is the manner in which the offerings are gathered. 
The collectors catch the general infection, and, as if 
they were ashamed of their business, go hurrying from 



230 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



pew to pew, presenting the basket in an irreverent 
manner, and as if to say, " this is no part of the 
service ; it is only a penny collection, and nothing is 
expected from most of you." 

In speaking of the offertory, and presenting its 
use as a lost act of worship, Rev. Hugh Miller 
Thompson, D. D., says : 

u It is another of the cases where our theories 
shame our practice, where our professions put our 
actions to blush, that the offertory has become in 
our worship, almost an impertinence. Our people 
do not understand its meaning. Our clergy too often 
do not dare, if they know it themselves, to make the 
people know it. 

" Men need to be taught that giving to the Lord is 
an essential part of public worship, quite as essential 
as singing or praying. They are to be instructed in 
the plain truth that words must go out in deeds. 
They must recognize the alms-basin as an essential 
part of church furniture, the putting of money into 
it as a devotional act. Their special attention must 
be called to the name by which their contributions, 
given in church, are called in the plain English of 
the Prayer Book 1 the devotions of the people.' 

" The whole duty of giving has grown dim, the 
sense of responsibility for wealth dead, in the minds 
of men. The Lord's treasury is like a beggar's dish. 
The clergy have grown cowardly about their part of 
Christian duty. When they urge it, it is with half 
arguments and cowardly compromises. They have 
a feeling that it almost degrades them to 'dun for 



THE SABBATH COLLECTION. 



231 



paltry money/ for even a good cause. So highly 
spiritual have we all become, that our religion must 
not even name filthy lucre. 

" Meanwhile, there stands that solemn service of 
the offertory, clear, bold, uncompromising, making, 
giving a solemn act of religion ; calling the offered 
thing by its old name, a 1 devotion ; ' bringing forward 
this act of piety in the forefront of the most solemn 
religious service of the church of God ; asking its per- 
formance as repentance and faith are asked — for a 
preparation for the worthy reception of Christ's body 
and blood. 

" In these days we know no doctrine of primitive 
Christianity which needs reviving more than this doc- 
trine of the offertory ; no teaching which is more 
needed by the men of the times than the emphatic 
teaching of that most ancient and primitive institu- 
tion. 

" Men need to be taught that they bring their 
whole lives to church with them, that they do not 
drop at the door the stains of the market and the 
'change. They require to have it pressed home that 
the gains which cannot be consecrated to the Lord 
are gains which are the 4 price of blood,' the blood of 
their own souls. They want the truth that God 
holds them responsible for every bargain and specu- 
lation, and that all the singing and praying in the 
world will not make an unjust profit other than a 
curse. They are to know that every day is a God's 
service or a devil's service, and that two hours a 
Sunday given to God will not pay for a Monday de- 



232 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



voted to the devil Mammon more than to the devil 
Belial. 

" Therefore, their lives are to be brought into the 
church. That is just what the church is for, that 
men should bring their lives into it, and measure 
them by the cubit of the sanctuary. They are there 
to be reminded of the market and the shop and the 
ledger, and if the reminding stings them and pains 
them, so much the more do they need it. They are 
there to have their doings over the counter, on 
'change, in the street, in the forum, brought to the 
test of God's eternal law, that they may be saved 
from ruin. And the offertory is there to do this. 
That is the special use and need of that religious ser- 
vice in all times. 

" The result, of course, if ever Christian men shall 
even begin to do their duty of giving on Christian 
principles, will be the world's conversion in about an 
ordinary life-time. Meanwhile, let us begin to put 
this business of giving on its true ground. Let us 
deliver it from meanness and beggary, and teach 
what it is, a profound and solemn act of reverent 
worship and awe, before God's altar ; an act wherein 
all mysteries meet in this, the deepest mystery of de- 
votion that mortal man can give to the Eternal Lord 
and have the gift accepted." 

To correct this spirit of disrespect now shown this 
legitimate and indispensable portion of worship, it 
will be necessary, first, to speak with becoming rev- 
erence of the offertory ; second, make the gathering 
of the offering a part of the service, and let the peo- 




The Israel A. M. E. Church, 
Albany,. N. Y. 



THE SABBATH COLLECTION. 



233 



pie feel that it is a part of the worship. In accom- 
plishing this let the pastor receive the offerings at 
the hands of the collectors, and then before turning 
from the congregation offer a brief consecrating 
prayer, asking God to accept the offerings and bless 
the givers. This brief prayer will do much to redeem 
the offertory and greatly stimulate and sweeten this 
act of worship and service. 

The gathering of the offering may also be solem- 
nized and restored to its proper sacredness in the fol- 
lowing manner : At the appropriate time let the 
minister arise and say, " the offerings of the people 
for benevolent purposes will now be gathered. " 
While the collection is being taken, let the pastor 
slowly but distinctly pronounce the following or other 
appropriate passages of scripture : 

I. FOR BENEVOLENT PURPOSES. 

" Trust in the Lord, and do good ; so shalt thou 
dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 

a Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good meas- 
ure, press down, and shaken together, and running 
over ; for with the same measure that ye mete, it 
shall be measured to you again. 

" Take heed, and beware of covetousness ; for a 
man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the 
things which he possesseth, but rather seek ye the 
kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added 
unto you. 

" There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and 
there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it 
tendeth to poverty. 



234 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



" Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the 
first fruits of all thine increase ; so shall thy barns be 
filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out 
with new wine. 

" The liberal deviseth liberal things ; and by lib- 
eral things shall he stand. 

" Charge them that are rich in this world — that 
they do good — that they be rich in good works, 
ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying 
up in store for themselves a good foundation against 
the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal 
life. 

" Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where 
thieves break through and steal ; but lay up for 
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth 
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not 
break through and steal ; for where your treasure is 
there will your heart be also. 

" But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall 
reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth bountifully 
shall reap also bountifully. Every man according 
as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; not 
grudgingly, or of necessity ; for God loveth a cheer- 
ful giver." 

II. ALMS GIVING. 
" Blessed is he that considereth the poor. The 
Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive ; and he 
shall be blessed upon the earth ; and thou wilt not 
deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord 



THE SABBATH COLLECTION. 



235 



will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing ; 
thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 

" Sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, 
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. 

" Thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy 
hand from thy poor brother ; but thou shalt open 
thy hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him 
sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth ; 
thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not 
be grieved when thou givest unto him ; because that 
for this thing, the Lord thy God shall bless thee in 
all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thy hand 
unto. 

" He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto 
the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay 
him again. 

" He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack. 
Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have 
done it unto me. 

"And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due 
season we shall reap if we faint not/' 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. M. 



236 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE TITHE, FREE-WILL OFFERING, AND ALMS- 



HE earth is the Lord's and the fullness 



therein," and as every thing belongs to God, it is rea- 
sonable that in God's first covenant with His crea- 
ture, man, we should expect to find some require- 
ment looking to the recognition of the relation of 
man as the subject, and of God as the Great Proprie- 
tor of all things. God did not cede His rights as 
proprietor to Adam, but He put him " into the 
Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." Adam 
did not become the proprietor, but was God's tenant. 
The grant of every tree of the garden was a grant of 
the sole and only proprietor, ceding limited privi- 
leges to man, the dependent subject of His continual 
bounty and blessing. The one tree which was re- 
served was to be a continual memorial of God's 
ownership of the entire garden. Adam could not 
have been tried, or proven by the principles subse- 
quently incorporated in the second table of the law. 
He had no father and mother to disobey, no being to 
kill, or with whom to commit adultery, or from whom 
to steal, or against whom to bear false witness, or 
the possession of whose property he might covet. 
But he was tested upon the principle which now lies 



GIVING. 




thereof ; the world and they that dwell 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



237 



at the very foundation of the first and each succeed- 
ing command of the decalogue. He was tested upon 
the question of yielding implicit obedience to God as 
his supreme sovereign. 

Not only was God the proprietor of Eden and its 
products, which Adam was permitted to enjoy, but 
even the breath which he breathed, the time — the 
duration of his existence — this also, as well as every 
thing, belonged to God. God was emphatically the 
universal sovereign ; as the universal sovereign, " the 
Lord God COMMANDED the man " concerning the 
restrictions and limitations of His covenant, making 
even the language of the command an explicit asser- 
tion of sovereignty. He reserved one tree of the 
garden as a symbol of His sovereign ownership of all 
the garden, and one day of each week, that day w^hich 
had been " sanctified, " He reserved as a memorial of 
His sovereign right to all of man's time. The angels 
coveted the glory which Christ had with the Father, 
and they fell ; Adam and Eve coveted what belonged 
to God in Eden, and they fell ; Judas coveted the 
wealth of the wicked, and he fell ; Ananias and Sap- 
phira coveted what they had voluntarily promised to 
Christ and His cause, and they fell — and so on from 
the beginning to the end of time, through the long 
catalogue of the succeeding generations, the sin of 
covetousness has been the besetting sin of mankind, 
and has called down the displeasure and punishment 
of heaven. It was to counteract this tendency of 
our natures, to avert the fearful consequences of this 
sin, that God from the very first required a continual 



238 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



and adequate acknowledgment of our dependency and 
His supremacy. God's relation to all created things 
is now and ever has been the same, man's nature is 
the same, and his well-being requires the same dis- 
cipline and the same lessons of God's supremacy and 
man's dependency. 

This brings us to the statement of our position in 
relation to the law of the tithe, which is, that this 
law was recognized from the beginning — it was not 
given for any limited time — it was not limited to 
any particular people — but that its binding force 
was recognized from the beginning, and sweeps on to 
the end of time, grasping in its divine requirements 
all ages, all nations, and all conditions of men alike. 

From what has been said, it is undeniable that 
God's ownership is perpetual, inextinguishable, and 
under all circumstances indisputable and supreme. 
It has also been shown that God did, by explicit 
command in His first covenant w T ith man, require 
some just and continual recognition of the fact that 
man was the mere tenant, and that God was the 
Great Proprietor of all things. 

It cannot be denied that during the first two thou- 
sand five hundred years of the world's history man 
received no written revelation of the divine will. 
Until Moses received at the hand of God the com- 
mandments written with God's own finger upon 
tables of stone — until then the world had been 
governed by God's revealed but unrecorded will, just 
the same as among the nations there are unwritten 
laws which together are called the Common Law. 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



239 



They embody the simplest, the most just, the most 
manifestly reasonable principles which lie at the 
foundation of all law. They grow out of the rela- 
tions of men and the constituted nature of things, 
and are only written in our very being. There is 
also the written law, the Statute Law, expressed 
with all the requisite forms of legislation. Just as 
God has dealt with the human race. On Mount 
Sinai the unwritten law was not abrogated, but re- 
ceived its confirmation by being expressed in the 
statutory laws of God. 

The account given us in Genesis is an inspired 
account of the creation, and a history of the world 
for two thousand five hundred years. It is not a 
statutory book of laws, but a brief history of a long 
period. We cannot, therefore, expect to find in it 
a full record of all God's requirements. 

After man's expulsion from Eden, in the renewed 
covenant we find no permission to worship the God 
whom they had offended ; no instructions how to 
approach Him with acceptable sacrifices, and yet this 
permission and instruction must most assuredly have 
been given them. After the flood, although Noah 
and his family had witnessed the injustice and the 
wicked practices of those before the flood, yet we 
find in the account of this renewed covenant no 
record of any requirements of duty to God, or of duty 
to his neighbor (except that concerning murder), nor 
of the observance of the Sabbath or of sacrifice, and 
yet we would not for a moment suppose that these 
were not enjoined. 



240 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Just so with regard to the then unwritten law of 
the tithe, while it was unwritten, yet it was most 
clearly observed. 

Before the giving of the statutory law by the hand 
of Moses, there were various offerings of material 
things made to God, accounts of which, in a some- 
what incidental manner, are recorded in the Bible : 

" And in process of time it came to pass that Cain 
brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto 
the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the first- 
lings of his flock and of the fat thereof." — Gen. iv, 
3, 4- 

" And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord ; and 
took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, 
and offered burnt offerings on the altar." — Gen. viii, 
20. 

u And the Lord appeared unto Abram and said, 
Unto thy seed will I give this land ; and there 
builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared 
unto him." — Gen. xii, 7; see, also, ver. 8; xiii, 18 ; 
xxvi, 25 ; xxxiii, 20; xxxi, 1 ; xlvi, 1. 

"And Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought forth 
bread and wine ; and he was the priest of the most 
high God. And He blessed him, and said, ' Blessed 
be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven 
and earth, and blessed be the most high God, which 
hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.' And 
he gave him tithes of ail." — Gen. xiv, 18, 20; see, 
also, xv, 9, 10. 

" And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and 
took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



241 



set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of 
it. And he called the name of the place Beth-el, 
but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, ' If God will be 
with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and 
will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so 
that I come again to my father's house in peace ; 
then shall the Lord be my God ; and this stone, which 
I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house ; and of 
all that thou shall give me I will surely give the 
tenth unto thee/" — Gen. xxviii, 18, 22; see, also 
Ex. v, 1, 3 ; x, 25, 26; xii, 3, 26, 27 ; xviii, 12. 
These passages of scripture show : 

1. That from the very first man offered to God of 
the choicest of beasts, fowls and cultivated fruits of 
the earth. 

2. In the fact that Abel " brought of the firstlings 
of his flock," we see clearly that God had enjoined 
upon the family of Adam the duty of offering the 
first of that which the bountiful Giver bestowed upon 
them. The institution must necessarily have pre- 
ceded the first mention of its observance, and since 
Abel's offering is declared to be an offering of u faith," 
it must have been in conformity to the divine com- 
mand, else it could not have been offered " by faith." 

3. That in two instances, at least, the tithe is ex- 
plicitly mentioned, and mentioned in a manner which 
indicates that Abram, in giving tithes to Melchize- 
dek, simply conformed to an already established cus- 
tom, and that Jacob at Beth-el simply vowed con- 
formity to a law previously enjoined. 



242 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



4. The tenth is the least amount which is either 
expressed or implied. 

If we come to the law as recorded by Moses, we 
get a clearer understanding of the divine law of the 
tithe. As with the law of the Sabbath, the sacrifice 
and other laws, so with that of the tithe — it was au- 
thoritative from the beginning, it was known to the 
servants of God, and more or less obeyed by them. 
This re-enactment, or recording of the law, was an 
indorsement whereby this law r which had been uni- 
versal became a re-enjoined law to the children of 
Israel. By its re-enactment God was emphasizing the 
importance of its continued observance. Here, then, 
we come to a more full and more clear understand- 
ing of the divine requirements respecting our rela- 
tions and duty to Him as the undisputed sovereign 
of all things. 

The law of the tithe, as we find it in the code of 
Israel's laws, consisted in this : 

I. THE FIRST TITHE. 
"And all the tithes of the land, whether of the 
seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the 
Lord's ; it is holy unto the Lord. And if a man will 
at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto 
the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of 
the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth 
under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. 
He shall not search whether it be good or bad. 
neither shall he change it ; and if he change it at all, 
then both it and the change thereof shall be holy ; it 
shall not be redeemed," — Lev. xxvii, 30-33. 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



243 



This one-tenth of the increase is that which was 
required from the beginning as the least that would 
meet the requirements of God's law. This was what 
still is emphatically the Lord s tenth, and by him it 
was wholly assigned to the support of his servants. 

II. THE SECOND TITHE. 

" Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy 
seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And 
thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place 
which He shall choose to place His name there,, the 
tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and 
the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks, that thou 
mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And 
if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not 
able to carry it : or if the place be too far from thee, 
which the Lord thy God shall choose to set His name 
there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: 
Then shalt thou turn it into money and bind up the 
money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place 
which the Lord thy God shalt choose : And thou 
shalt rejoice, thou and thine household, and the 
Levite that is within thy gates : thou shalt not for- 
sake him ; for he hath no part or inheritance with 
thee." — Deut. xiv. 22-27. 

This is a second tenth part of all the increase. 
This is not called the Lord's tithe, nor was it devoted 
to the maintenance of the Levites and priests, but 
was to be consumed by the family, together with 
some poorer brethren and some of the Levites, in 
feasting before the Lord in the place where He should 
appoint His worship to be offered. 



244 



CHURCH FINANCIERING 



III. THE THIRD TITHE. 

" At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth 
all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and 
shalt lay it up within thy gates ; and the Levite, be- 
cause he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, and 
the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, 
which are within thy gates, shall come and shall eat 
and be satisfied ; that the Lord thy God may bless 
thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." 
— Deut. xiv, 28, 29; see, also, xxvi, 12, 13. 

This appears to be a third tenth of all increase 
which was required only every third year, and was 
devoted at home to the entertainment of the Levites, 
strangers, fatherless and widows residing in each one's 
immediate neighborhood. That it was to be con- 
sumed at home, seems to make it as a tithing dis- 
tinct and separate from the other two, yet it is but 
fair to state that by some, this is regarded as iden- 
tical with the second tithing, being distinguished 
only in this, that upon each third year it was diverted 
from its general use to a special or particular pur- 
pose. 

IV. THE FOURTH TITHE. 

" Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, 
when ye take of the children of Israel the tithes 
which I have given you from them for your inherit- 
ance, then ye shall offer up a heave offering of it for 
the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe. Thus ye 
also shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all 
your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel ; 



» 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 245 

and ye shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering 
to Aaron the priest." — Num. xviii, 26-28. 

This fourth tithe was that which the Lord required 
the Levites to pay the priests. The Levites were 
those who were descended from Levi by Gershom, 
Kohath and Merari, and were called Levites as dis- 
tinguished from the sons of Levi by Aaron, who were 
called the priests. 

Besides these tithes, there were the various forms 
of sacrifices and offerings comprising the burnt-offer- 
ing, the meat-offering, the peace-offering, the sin- 
offering and the trespass-offering.^ In addition to 
these, there were the numerous provisions for the 
poor, besides the offerings of the people for them- 
selves as individuals at the purification of women 

*The regular sacrifices in the temple service were : I. Burnt- 
offerings: {a) the daily burnt-offering (Ex. xxix, 38, 42); (b) the 
double burnt-offering on the Sabbath (Num. xxviii, 9, 10); (c) the 
burnt-offering at the great festivals (Num. xxviii, 11; xxix, 39). 
II. Meat-offerings: (a) the daily meat-offering accompanying the 
daily burnt-offering, flour, wine, oil (Ex. xxix, 40, 41); (/>) the 
shew-bread (Lev. xxiv, 5, 9); (c) special meat-offering at the Sab- 
bath and the great festivals (Num. xxviii, xxix); (//) the first fruits 
at the Passover (Lev. xxiii, 10, 14); at Pentecost (Lev. xxiii, 17. 
20), both called wave-offering; the first fruits of the dough and 
threshing-floor at harvest (Num. xv, 20, 21; Deut. xxvi, 1, n), 
called heave-offerings. III. Sin-offerings: (a) a kid each new moon 
(Num. xxviii, 15); (b) sin-offering at the Passover, Pentecost, Feast 
of Trumpets and Tabernacles (Num. xxviii, 22, 30; xxix, 5, 16, 19, 
22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 38); [c) the offering of the two-goats, one sacri- 
ficed and the other the scapegoat, for the people, and the bullock 
for the priest himself, on the great Day of Atonement (Lev. xvi). 
IV. Incense: (a) the morning and evening incense (Ex. xxx, 7, 8); 
(b) the incense on the great Day of Atonement (Lev. xvi, 12). 



246 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

(Lev. xii) ; the presentation of the first-born at cir- 
cumcision ; the cleansing of the leprosy (Lev. xiv) : 
of the unclean (Lev. xv) ; at the fulfillment of vows 
(Num. vi, 1, 20); at marriages, funerals, etc. , etc., 
besides the frequent offering of private sin-offerings. 
To meet the various requirements, must have de- 
manded from one-fourth to one-third of all the 
annual production of the entire land. 

The law of the tithe and of the offering which 
were held by worshipers from the first, and which 
had become worJd-wide before the time of Moses, 
were multiplied and intensified under the Jewish 
dispensation. As more was given, so more was re- 
quired. 

THE TITHE IN TPIE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. 

On this subject of the tithe, the Old and New 
Testaments are not to be arrayed as though their 
declarations were at variance upon this great doc- 
trine. They are an exposition not of two, but of 
one system of religion — the Christian religion. The 
same divine principle and moral laws pervade both 
dispensations alike, and the same lessons are taught 
in both. It was of the Old Testament that Christ 
said, " Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye 
have eternal life, and they are they which testify of 
Me." These were the " Holy Scriptures " which 
Timothy had known "from a child," which were 
" profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, 
for instruction in righteousness." 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AXD ALMS. 



247 



" They are not two churches," says Leslie, " but 
two states of the same church ; for it is the same 
Christian church from the first promise of Christ 
(Gen. iii, 15) to the end of the world, and, therefore, 
it is said (Heb. iv, 2), that the gospel was preached 
unto them as well as unto us." The civil and cere- 
monial laws, given to a particular people for a par- 
ticular time, became null and void when that time 
was accomplished ; but the law of the tithe existed 
from the first, and was neither civil nor ceremonial, 
but moral, and consequently it is just as binding 
to-day as any other unchangeable moral law. 

Since the church is the same, and governed by the 
same laws under both dispensations, these laws were 
not reannounced by Christ ; they were taken for 
granted, they were understood, they were recognized, 
for Jesus declared concerning the law and the proph- 
ets that " He came not to destroy, but to fulfill." 
This was his indorsement, and they needed not to 
be reannounced. The law of the tithe needed not 
to be announced any more than the law of the Sab- 
bath, or of prayer, or worship. Jesus sanctioned the 
great liberality of Zaccheus when he gave " half his 
goods," and even when a poor widow gave " all her 
living," the act secured his fullest commendation, 
and to the young man who came running to him 
Jesus made the parting with all his " great posses- 
sions " the condition upon which rested his salvation. 
The first worship to the infant Saviour was in the 
richest treasures of " gold, frankincense and myrrh," 
and so must all true worship of him ever be attended. 



248 CHURCH FINANCIERING. 

When the Pharisees boasted of giving tithes of 
" mint and anise and commin," Christ reproved them 
for omitting "judgment, mercy, faith," but approved 
of their paying tithes even to the utmost. 

There was no occasion for a continual repetition 
of this law to the apostles and early Christians. 
When this abiding truth was baptized by the Pente- 
costal blessing, we find them selling their possessions 
and goods, and parting them to all men as every 
man had need — thus again and again we find them 
even out of a deep poverty abounding in the riches 
of their liberality, being " willing of themselves."* 

That the law of the tithe was recognized, and the 
duty of conformity to it enforced, is made very evi- 
dent in the writings of the Fathers, and in the records 
of the councils of the church. f 

* See, also, Acts ii, 44, 45; iv, 34, 35; ix, 36, 39; xvi, 15, 33, 34, 
xx, 35; xxviii, 14, 15; Rom. xv, 25, 2S; xvi, 1, 2, 6; 1 Cor. xvi, r, 
2, 15; 2 Cor. viii, 1,4; ix, 1, 2, 12, 15; Phil, iv, 10, 14, 16; 1 Thess. 
iv, 9, 10. 

f As our space and purpose in this treatise are too limited to 
admit of the presentation of the quotations which establish this 
point, we refer the reader to the following works of the Fathers : 
Irenaeus Adversus Hseresus, Lib. 4, Cap. 27., 34 ; Origen, In Nu- 
mero Homilia, xi; In Genes Horn., xvi; Cyrian De Unit. Eccle., 
§ 23; Chrysostom, Tom. i, Horn. 35, Tom. ii, Ad Eph. Horn, iv, 
Ad., i, Cov. Horn. 43, Ad Act. Horn. 18; Ambrose Ad Horn. 33 
et 34; Jerome, Epist. 2, Ad Nepotianum, In Malachim, iii, In Epis. 
1 Cor. In Ezek. xliv, Augustine, De Reddendis Decimes, Ser. 219, 
In Psalmum cxlvi, Horn, 48 ; see also, Council of Ancyra (A. D. 
314); of Gangra (A. D. 324); of Orleans (first, A. D. 511) ; of Mas- 
con (second council, A. D. 585) ; of Seville (first council, A. D. 
590) ; of Toledo (fourth, A. D. 633) ; of Fruili (A. D. 791A Besides 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



249 



Since the tithe was instituted soon after the crea- 
tion of man, was observed before the giving of the 
law on Mount Sinai, was emphasized and intensified 
under the Mosaic dispensation, was recognized by 
Christ, and the Christian church was built around it, 
and since it was recognized by the Christian church 
in the earlier centuries, how does it come that in 
these later centuries the Christian church has de- 
parted from this law ? 

About three centuries before the Reformation the 
apostate Church of Rome assailed the doctrine of the 
divine right of the tithe. She taught that tithes not 
being of divine right, might be alienated from the 
support of the priests to the aggrandizement of the 
church. To justify corrupt practices it was necessary 
to supplant divine laws by corrupt doctrines. This 
the man of sin did not hesitate to do, but substituted 
the doctrine of competent maintenance for the divine 
law of the tithe. The State was not slow to learn 
the lesson. If tithes did not belong to God, and 
God's ministers were entitled only to a " competent 
maintenance," why was not the State as justly en- 
titled to the tithes of the people as the pope? and 
why could not the State appropriate the tithes and 

these, many subsequent councils. In the confessional at this 
period was asked : " Hast thou at any time neglected to pay thy 
tithes to God, which God himself ordained to be given? If thou 
hast done so, or consented to the defrauding of the church therein, 
first restore to God four-fold the tenth of all kinds of possessions, 
as well personal as prsedial." 



250 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



dole out to the clergy a " competent maintenance " 
as well as the pope?"* 

Thus in the sixteenth century, we have the State 
under the protection of this corrupt doctrine, wresting 
from the church those tithes which God had devoted 
to her support. As every student of history knows, 
the effects were as disastrous as the doctrine was 
delusive. Here we have, then, briefly, how these 
tithes, which " are the Lord's," were in the first 
diverted from the purposes to which God had de- 
voted them, and how they were finally entirely 
alienated from the church by the State. The his- 
tory from that time to this is only too well known 
to need recording here --a church dependent upon 
the State, or dependent upon the merest pittance 
of the people. From that time to this the history 
of the church has been one of servile dependence 
either upon the State or upon the people. At the 
remembrance of the sad results of the past, and the 
degrading slavery of the present, we can but sit 

* God appropriated the tithes of the people for the maintenance 
of the Levites ; the)' were not to be used for the support of the 
State. Under the Mosaic dispensation the Crown was to be sup- 
ported by presents (i Sam. x, 27); by the products of the royal 
flocks (1 Sam. xxi, 7, 8; 2 Chron. xxxii, 28, 29); by the royal de- 
mesnes, vineyards and olive gardens (1 Chron. xxvii, 26, 28); by 
the spoils of conquered nations (1 Kings, iv, 21 ; 2 Chron. xxvii, 
5) ; by the tribute of conquered nations and of merchants passing 
through their country (1 Kings, x, 15) ; by taxes and tolls (Ezra, 
iv, 14, 19, 20) ; by a tenth, which Samuel forewarned them that the 
king, like the kings of other nations, would exact (1 Sam. viii, 15). 
That the treasuries of the Lord's house and of the king's house 
were distinct. See 2 Kings, xviii, 15, and 2 Chron, xii, 9, 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 2 5 I 



down as Israel " by the rivers of Babylon/' and 
tk weep when we remember Zion." 

II. FREE-WILL OFFERINGS. 
To arrive at a clear understanding of the differ- 
ence between tithes, offerings and free-will offerings, 
it will be necessary to state them connectedly. The 
tithe is the one-tenth (as the name indicates; of a 
man's yearly increase or income, which God has 
reserved, and appointed to be returned to him. The 
tithe is "holy unto the Lord," and in rendering 
the tithe, man gives nothing of his own to God, but 
simply returns to God that which was always His, 
and which He only intrusts into the hands of man 
as His steward, and by w r hich to attest his honesty 
and remind him that God is the Supreme Sovereign 
even of the nine-tenths w T hich he is permitted to 
retain. The term " tithe," then, comprehends the first 
one-tenth of the yearly increase of the people, which 
God requires the people to return to Him, and w T hich, 
under the Mosaic dispensation, w r as assigned by Him 
for the maintenance of the Levites. It also com- 
prehends the one-tenth which the Levites were to 
give of all the tithes they received from the people, 
and which is called a heave-offering, which the Lord 
assigned for the maintenance of the priests. Tech- 
nically, the term " tithe " does not include the second 
tenth of the annual increase which was devoted to a 
sacred feasting before the Lord in the place which He 
should appoint ; nor does it include the third tithe 
used every third year for a local feasting of the Levite, 



252 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



the stranger, the fatherless and the widow — these 
tithes are classed among offerings. Strictly or tech- 
nically, then, the term " tithe " refers only to that first 
tithe of the people and the heave-offering of the 
Levites, which was holy unto the Lord. 

The term " offerings," in its more comprehensive 
sense, includes all that man gives in any shape to 
God as an expression of love and obedience, or for 
the service of his fellow man, after having rendered 
to God the one-tenth of all his increase. Between 
tithes and offerings there exists a difference as to 
property. In sacrifices and offerings man gives of 
his own to God ; he gives to God that which he 
might withhold, and not defraud God of that, the 
right of which he has never ceded to man. By with- 
holding his offerings, man dishonors God ; by with- 
holding the tithes, he defrauds God of that which is 
and always was His, and which was never man's at 
all. In offerings man is permitted, in a large measure, 
to exercise his reason and to gratify his wishes, but 
in the payment of the tithe, God both appoints the 
measure and designates the use. 

While the term " offering " includes the free-will 
offering, it comprehends much more. The free-will 
offerings of the people were those gifts which were 
contributed for the erecting or the repairing, of the 
tabernacle, temple or any place made sacred to the 
worship of Jehovah, or to provide outward things 
necessary for the service of God's house.* 

* See Ex. xxv, 1, 2, 3; Lev. xxii, 18, 19, 24; xxiii, 38; Ezra 
i, 4; iii, 5; viii, 28; 2 Chron. xxxi, 14. See, also, " The Scrip- 
tural Plan," Chapter V, page 175. 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



253 



The free-will offering is obligatory in character, al- 
though unprescribed in amount, which is left to each 
one's conscience and love to God — hence they are 
called free-will offerings. " Every man shall give as 
he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy 
God which He hath given thee/' — Deut. xvi, 17. 

ALMS-GIVING. 
God has designed that in every age, and nation 
and clime there shall be living illustrations of the 
condition of dependence and want to which Christ 
conceded for our salvation. " The poor shall never 
cease out of the land," saith the Lord. The way in 
which they are ever to be treated is clearly manifest 
in the Mosaic dispensation. The grain was not to 
be reaped from the corners of the fields, but was to 
be left for the poor ; the gleanings of the fields and 
the vineyards belonged to them. The poor were to 
participate in the second tithe, or festival tithe, and 
every third year a special tithe was levied for their 
especial benefit. The profits of the Sabbatical year 
were theirs, besides the canceling of their debts, the 
restoration of their freedom, and returning of their 
estates upon the return of every year of jubilee. 
The Old Testament abounds with instruction con- 
cerning our treatment of the poor: "If there be 
among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within 
any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy 
God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart 
nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother ; but 
thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt 



254 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



surely lend him sufficient for his need, in tha>t which 
he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in 
thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the 
year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil 
against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught ; 
and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin 
unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine 
heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto 
him, because that for this thing the Lord thy God 
shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou 
puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never 
cease out of the land, therefore, I command thee, 
saying, "Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy 
brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in thy land." 
— Deut. xv, 7-1 1.* 

" It was the practice of the Lord Jesus to direct 
funds from their treasury, from time to time, to be 
given to the poor. So common a thing was it to 
make such drafts on the treasury, that when Jesus at 
the table told Judas, 'what thou doest, do quickly,' 
the other disciples thought he meant that a donation 
should be made to the poor.' 5 

The early Christians so excelled in their acts of 
charity, that this remarkable feature of their religion 
excited the wonder of the heathen world. " But 
whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother 
have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion 
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"-— 
I John, iii, 17. 

* See, also, Lev. xxiii, 22; xix, 10; Ex. xxiii, n; Deut. xvi, 1,2, 
12; Ex. xxi, 2. 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 



255 



The same duty still exists, and if the Christian 
church had not so far forgotten her duty in this 
matter of caring for the poor, there would now be no 
score of societies organized outside of the church for 
the purpose of doing the church's work. 

But we have introduced this section to show by 
contrast what alms-giving is in the light of God's 
word, and also to show that this is a special and 
distinct portion of Christian duty. That portion of 
our goods which we give the poor is not to take the 
place of our offerings to the Lord. Neither are our 
alms to be drawn from that portion of God's bounty 
which is " holy unto the Lord/' " If we give to the 
poor out of God's tenth, we give what is none of 
our own ; we rob God to pay man, and commit a 
sacrilege for the sake of charity." 

CONCLUSION. 
That tithes, offerings and alms are still expected 
of Christian people there cannot exist the least 
doubt in any well-informed mind. But how have we 
discharged the obligation ? Have we been faithful 
stewards, and are we ready to render an account of 
our stewardship ? No ! many have not heeded, most 
have not even known their duty, and all have come 
short of both privilege and obligation. God has not 
deprived us of the blessedness of giving. The same 
unchanged command guards the limits of The Least, 
while the promises and offered blessings of the New 
Testament invite the worshipers to offer more under 
the Christian than under the Mosaic dispensation. 



2 5 6 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



The same impending judgments are still attendant 
upon the violation of these laws. In the days of 
Haggai, at the close of Judah's long captivity, when 
the people came back to their desolated land, their 
thought was not of worship, of sacrifice, of tithes, 
and of offerings, but of the rebuilding of their own 
houses and the enriching of themselves while they 
neglected their duty to God and to His house. God 
said: " Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, 
and bring in little ; ye eat, but ye have not enough ; 
ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink ; ye clothe 
you, but there is none warm ; and he that earneth 
wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 
Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little ; and 
when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? 
said the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house 
that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own 
house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed 
from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit." — 
Haggai i, 6, 9, 10. 

Are not these same sad consequences being real- 
ized to-day in the spiritual history of the church ? 
Look at the thousands of churches all over this broad 
land, struggling with debts, treasuries empty, people 
disheartened, current expenses not met, the great 
work of the church impeded, the poor and destitute 
neglected, the heathen left to die in darkness, the 
servants of God in a state of humiliating dependence, 
not a few struggling with debts, many in want, and 
some in positive mental and physical distress. The 
picture is not overdrawn, nor the facts overstated. 



TITHES, OFFERINGS AND ALMS. 257 



As God's husbandmen we " sow much and bring in 
little," the church " drinks, but is not filled, is clothed, 
but is not warm, it gathers, but it puts it into a bag 
with holes." 

Have we not an answer to the cause of all this ? It 
is the same now as when Malachi reproved the priests 
in his day, saying : " Ye are departed out of the way; 
ye have caused many to stumble at the law ; ye 
have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord 
of hosts. Therefore, have I also made you con- 
temptible and base before all the people, according 
as ye have not kept My ways, but have been partial 
i?i the law. Have we not all one father? Hath not 
one God created us ? Why do we deal treacherously 
every man against his brother, by profaning the cov- 
enant of our fathers ? Even from the days of your 
fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and 
have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will re- 
turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, 
wherein shall we return ? Will a man rob God ? 
Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have 
we robbed thee ? In TITHES AND OFFERINGS. Ye 
are cursed with a curse ; for ye have robbed Me even 
this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the 
store-house, that there may be meat in Mine house, 
(7. support for my ministers and my service), and 
prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I 
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour 
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room 
enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer 
for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of 



258 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



your ground ; neither shall your vine cast her fruit 
before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. 
And all nations shall call you blessed ! for ye shall 
be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts/' — 
Mai. ii, 8-10 ; iii, 7-12. 

Rev. SYLVANUS STALL, A. M. 



BOOK CONCERN PLAN OF FINANCIERING. 259 



CHAPTER X. 



THE BOOK CONCERN PLAN OF FINANCIERING FOR 
THE A. M. E. CHURCH 

A S every church must have a book concern to 



2V supply their members with hymn books, dis- 
cipline and other church periodicals, it is a good 
plan for Methodists, who have bishops, elders, pre- 
siding elders and conferences, to make the book 
concern a sort of a joint-stock concern, say, for 
instance, a connection that has forty conferences. 
Let each minister of his respective conference take 
a $10 share (which any minister can do in the com- 
pass of a year) for which he must receive a printed 
certificate from the general book manager ; and if 
the connection has 3,000 ministers, and they each 
pay only $5 in the stock concern, it will give the 
manager of the concern the sum of $15,000. But 
let us say that they pay $10, this they can easily do 
by paying the small sum of $1 per month, if 
they are not able to pay it all at once, and in the 
compass of ten months they shall have paid $10, 
which will put in the hands of the manager the 
sum of $30,000, at once. Which will put the book 
concern upon its feet immediately, and in a good 
running condition. Let it be understood that a 
dividend per centum will be given to every member 
of the company holding a certificate according to 
his amount paid in, once a year — say the first day 




260 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



of January of each year. This amount must be sent 
to him by money order, the manager receiving his 
receipt for the same. This will stimulate the min- 
isters and give them a personal interest in the con- 
cern, and they will have a greater interest in selling 
all of the books and periodicals to the people in their 
several charges, and keep the concern in a healthy 
condition, and enable the manager to pay all of the 
running expenses, and still have money in hand to 
put out at interest. In the A. M. E. Church they 
pay their bishops and general officers, colleges, etc., 
from a fund known to them as the " dollar money;" 
that is, it is expected of every traveling minister to 
collect $i a year from every member of his respective 
charge of which he is the pastor. Now suppose a 
church connection has a membership of 500,000, and 
the minister collects only fifty cents from each mem- 
ber, which can be done by a well-systematized plan, 
by the minister calling a members' meeting and organ- 
izing his people for this work, instructing and en- 
lightening them once a quarter upon the subject. 
They will be thus trained and educated into the 
work, and every one will understand what his par- 
ticular duty is and what is expected of him as a 
Christian man to do for the Church of Christ of 
which he is a member, and he or they, if Christians 
at all, will take a pride in doing his whole duty. 
This will give the manager the sum of $250,000.. Let 
this sum also be paid into the hands of the book 
manager ; this, added to the $30,000 above mentioned, 
will give him in one year the sum of $280,000^ thus 



BOOK CONCERN PLAX OF FINANCIERING. 261 

giving us one general fund ; out of this he can pay 
the bishops and general officers their support, and 
give as a financial committee may direct (for he must 
have a financial committee to work with him;, the 
several amounts that should be paid each year for 
the missionary work, home and abroad, and for the 
schools, seminaries, colleges, presiding elders and 
worn-out bishops and preachers, and still have an 
amount on hand from year to year to keep the con- 
cern in the proper condition. And the church will 
grow in spirit and the schools will be well supplied, 
and every officer paid in bulk each quarter, which 
will enable him to support his family nobly and settle 
all of his personal accounts and do him some good. 
It must be remembered that the members of the 
five and ten dollar stock company are not to receive 
any dividend from any other moneys paid into the 
treasury only from that amount paid in by the mem- 
bers of the stock company, and, by the way, any 
trustee, steward, member or friend may become a 
member of the stock company, and also receive their 
dividend per annum by paying the stipulated amount 
into the treasury. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

To the amount named above, there must be added 
the moneys that are collected and raised on Chil- 
dren's day, and the Endowment day. Twenty thou- 
sand children giving themselves two cents each, that 
is two cents for each day (namely, Endowment and 
Children's day), will make four cents in all that the 



262 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



children will give in a year ; this will give us a sum 
of 840,000 more to be paid into the same fund ; this, 
added to the $280,000, will make the sum of $320,- 
000 per year, the interest of which I will say nothing 
about, as it will be constantly paid out in various 
directions. 

Now, my brethren, these sums can be raised and 
paid, for we have but few ministers who cannot pay 
$10 in the compass of twelve months, and a very few 
members who cannot pay fifty cents, and a still fewer 
Sunday-school children that cannot pay four cents 
or have it given to them, or the amount raised for 
them according to the number of each school by col- 
lections, concerts, or exhibitions, so that four cents 
a year will be credited to each scholar in his respect- 
ive Sunday-school. Let no one say that this cannot 
be done, for I know it can, however, my brethren. 

This is my plan, try it, and you will find one of 
the greatest successes ever known in the history of 
our church ; for the sooner the children and people 
are taught to give by system or regular plan, the 
sooner will the church grow and her institutions and 
officers be supported, and our embarrassed financial 
condition relieved. This is my financial plan for the 
whole church, and may God help you to see it and 
adopt it, and success is ours. 



AN ADDRESS OX SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 263 



CHAPTER XL 

AN ADDRESS OX SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE — GOOD AXD 
BAD LUCK, OR THE SECRET OF SUCCESS AXD 
THE ART OF MAKING MONEY. 

EVERY man is the architect of his own house, 
his own temple of fame. If he builds one 
great, honorable and glorious, merit and the bliss are 
his. If he rears a polluted, unsightly, vice-haunted 
den of devils, to himself the shame and misery 
belong. 

Success is the product of the sum of our years, 
multiplied by our good actions. Life is a problem, 
and we solve it on the black-board of the world. 
The answer we get at death will approximate to 
the true one, just in proportion to the correctness of 
our work. Every mistake, if not rectified, will carry 
us far from the truth. Errors in the commencement 
of the work are doubly dangerous, for by every suc- 
ceeding step they carry us farther from the true end. 
Hence Ave should start right in youth, that is, get a 
correct statement of the problem at which we must 
work while we live. 

W e must not attribute our success to blind fortune, 
or our failures to bad luck. Luck and fortune are 
mere words without any meaning. 

What is called good fortune is the result of sound 
judgment, supported by a stout heart and a ready 
hand. Bad luck is the reverse of this. 



264 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



It is cowardice to grumble about circumstances. 
Some men always talk as though fate had woven a 
web of circumstances against them, and that it is 
useless for them to try to break through it, they 
have such bad luck in every thing that they attempt 
to do. 

Out upon such dastardly whining, it is their busi- 
ness to dash on in pursuit of their object against 
every thing. Then circumstances will gradually turn 
in their favor, and they w T ill deem themselves the 
favored children of destiny. 

I may here as well as anywhere impart the secret 
of what is called good and bad luck. There are some 
men who suppose that providence has an implacable 
spite against them ; they bemoan in the poverty of 
a wretched old age the misfortune of their lives. 

Luck, they say, forever ran against them, and in 
favor of others. 

One with a good profession lost his luck in the 
river, where he idled away his time fishing, when he 
should have been in the office attending to his busi- 
ness. Another with a good trade, perpetually burned 
up his luck with his hot temper, which provoked all 
of his employees to leave him. Another, with a 
lucrative business, lost his luck by amazing diligence 
at every thing but his own business. Another who 
steadily followed his trade, as steadily followed his 
bottle. Another who was honest and constant to his 
work, erred by perpetual misjudgment — he lacked 
discretion. 

Hundreds lose their luck by indorsing, by san- 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 265 

guine speculations, by trusting fraudulent men, and 
by dishonest gains. A man never has good luck 
who has a bad wife, nor a woman with a bad husband. 

I never knew an early-rising, hard-working prudent 
man, careful of his earnings,, and strictly honest, who 
complained of bad luck. A good character, good 
habits, and an iron industry, are impregnable to the 
assaults of all the ill-luck that fools ever dreamed of. 
But when I see a tatterdemalion creeping out of a 
grogery or a whisky-shop late in the afternoon, or 
late at night, with his hands stuck in his pockets and 
the rim of his hat turned up and the crown knocked 
in, I know he has had bad luck, for the want of all 
luck is to be a sluggard, a knave, or a tippler. 

There is solid good sense in this extract which 
ought to be learned by every youth. 

What countless thousands of old people are com- 
plaining of bad luck in a peevish, sickly, disagreeable 
decline of life, which really is the legitimate result of 
the irregular, ill-directed, selfish or vicious lives they 
have lived. 

Every youth should live with one eye on old age. 
If he should die before he gets there, it will never do 
him any injury. The moral principles of youth laid 
in store for age, will be just as valuable beyond death 
as on this side. 

Some men never are awake when the train starts : 
but crawl into the station just in time to see that 
everybody is off, and then sleepily say: " Dear me, 
is the train gone? What bad luck I do have. Mv 
watch must have stopped in the night." 



266 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



They always come into town a day after the fair; 
and open their wares an hour after the market is over. 
They make their hay when the sun has leftoff shining ; 
and cut their corn as soon as the fine weather is ended. 
They cry hold hard after the shot has left the gun ; 
and they lock the stable door when the steed is stolen. 

They are like a cow's tail, always behind ; and then 
cry bad luck. They take time by the heels and not 
by the forelock, if indeed they did it at all. They 
are of no more worth than an old almanac ; their time 
has gone for being of use, but unfortunately you can- 
not throw them away as you would the almanac ; for 
they are like the cross old lady, who had an annuity left 
to her, and meant to take out the full value of it. 
They do not want to die though they are of no use 
to live. 

" Take it easy and live long are first cousins," they 
say, and the more the pity ; for if they are immortal 
till their work is done, they will not die in a hurry, 
for they have not even begun to work yet. 

Shiftless people generally excuse their laziness by 
saying they are only a little behind time ; but a little 
too late is much too late, and a miss is as good as a 
mile. 

My neighbor Sykes covered up his well after his 
child was drowned in it ; and he was very busy down 
at the old farm bringing up buckets of water after 
every stick of the house was burned. One of these 
days he'll be for making his will when he cannot hold 
a pen ; and he'll be trying to repent of his sins when 
his senses are going. 



AN- ADDRESS OX SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 267 



These slow coaches think that to-morrow is better 
than to-day ; and take for their rule an old proverb 
turned topsy-turvy, " never do to-day what you can 
put off till to-morrow." 

They are forever waiting until their ship comes 
home ; and always dreaming about things looking up 
by and by, while the grass grows in their furrows 
and the cows get through the gaps in their hedges. 

If the birds would but wait to have salt put on 
their tails, what a fine breakfast they would take to 
their families 

But while things move as fast as they do, the 
youngsters at home will have to fill their mouths 
with empty spoons. 

Never mind, they say, wait a little longer ; my luck 
is bad now, there are better times a coming. 

Their birds are all in the bush, and rare fat ones 
they are, according to their accounts ; and so they had 
need to be, for they have had none in their hands yet, 
and their waives and children are half starved. 

Something will turn up, they say. Why don't the 
stupids go and turn it up themselves ? 

Time and tide wait for no man ; and these fellows 
loiter about as if they had a freehold of time, a lease 
of their lives, and a rabbit-warren of opportunities. 
They will find out their mistake, when want finds 
them out, and that will not be long with some in our 
village, for they are already a long w r ay on the road 
to Need-ham.'' They who would not plough must 
not expect to reap, for they who by the plough would 
thrive, must either hold the plough themselves or 



268 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



drive. They who waste the spring will have a lean 
autumn. 

They would not strike when the iron was hot, and 

they will soon find the cold iron very hard. 

"He who will not when he may 
When he will he shall have nay." 

Time is not tied to a post like a horse to a manger. 

It passes like the wind, and he who would grind his 

corn by it, must set his mill sails. 

He that gaps till he be fed 
Will gape till he be dead. 

Nothing is to be got without pains, except poverty 
and dirt. In the old days they said, " Jack gets on 
by his stupidity." Jack would find it very different 
now-a-days, I think ; but never in old times or any 
other times would Jack get on by foolishly letting 
present chances slip by him, for " hares never run in 
the mouths of sleeping dogs." 

He that hath time, and looks for better time, time 
comes that he repents himself of time. 

There is no good in lying down and crying God 
help us. God helps those who help themselves. 

When I see a man who declares that the times are 
bad, and that he is always unlucky, I generally say 
to myself, that old goose did not sit on the eggs till 
they were all addled, and now Providence is to be 
blamed because they do not hatch. 

I never had any faith in luck at all, except, that I 
believe good luck will carry a man over a ditch if 
he jumps well, and will put a bit of bacon into his 
pot if he looks after his garden and keeps a pig. 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 269 



Luck generally comes to those who look after it, and 
my notion is that it taps at least once in a life-time 
at everybody's door ; but if industry does not open 
the door away it goes ; those who have lost the last 
coach, and let every opportunity slip by them, turn 
to abusing providence for setting every thing against 
them. If I were a hatter, says one, men would be 
born without heads. 

If I went to the sea for water, quoth another, I 
should find it dry. Every wind is foul for a creaky 
ship. 

Neither the wise nor the wealthy can help him who 
has long refused to help himself. 

And now I will give you a few hints as to how to 
thrive in life, and make money. Hard work is the 
grand secret of success ; nothing but rags and poverty 
can come of idleness. Elbow grease is the only stuff 
to make gold w T ith. No sweat, no sweet. He who 
would have the crow's eggs must climb the tree. 
Every man must build up his own fortune now-a- 
days. Shirt sleeves rolled up, lead on to the best 
broadcloth ; and he who is not ashamed of the apron, 
will soon be able to do without it. Diligence is the 
mother of good luck, so poor Richard says, but idle- 
ness is the devil's bolster, as John Stevenson says. 
Believe in traveling on step by step, don't expect to 
be rich in one jump. Great greediness to reap helps 
money to heap. Slow and sure is better than fast 
and flimsy. Perseverance by its daily gains enriches 
a man far more than fits and starts of fortunate 
speculations. " Little fishes are sweet." Every 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



little helps, as the sow said when she snapped at the 
gnat. Every day a thread, makes a skein in a year. 
Brick by brick houses are built. We should creep 
before we walk, walk before we run, and run before 
we ride. In getting rich the more haste the least 
speed. Haste trips up its own heels, hasty climbers 
have sudden falls. 

It is bad beginning business without capital. It 
is hard marketing with empty pockets. We want a 
nest egg, for hens will lay where there are eggs al- 
ready. It is true you must bake with the flour you 
have, but if the sack is empty it might be quite as 
well not to set up for a baker. Making bricks with- 
out straw is easy enough compared with making 
money when you have none to start with. 

Young gentleman, stay a journeyman a little longer, 
till vou have saved a few dollars. Fly when vour 
wings have feathers ; but if you try too soon you will 
be like the young rook that broke its neck through 
trying to fly before it w r as feathered. 

Every minnow wants to be a whale: but it is pru 
dent to be a little fish while you have little water; 
when your pond becomes a sea, then swell as much 
as you like. 

Trading without capital is like building a house 
without bricks, making a fire without sticks, burning 
candles without wicks, it leads a man into tricks and 
lands him in a fix. 

Do not give up a small business till you see that 
a large one will pay you better. 

Even crumbs are bread. 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 27 1 



Better a poor horse than an empty stall, 
Better half a loaf than none at all. 

Better a little furniture than an empty house. 
In these hard times he who can sit on a stone and 
feed himself, had better not move. From bad to 
worse is poor improvement. A crust is hard fare, 
but none at all is harder. 

Do not jump out of the frying-pan into the fire ; 
remember many men have done well in very small 
shops ; a little trade with profit, is better than a great 
concern at a loss. 

A small fire that warms you is better than a large 
one that burns you. A great quantity of water can 
be got from a small pipe, if the bucket is always there 
to catch it. Large hares may be caught in small 
woods. 

A sheep may get fat in a small meadow, and starve 
to death in a great desert. 

He who undertakes too much succeeds in but lit- 
tle. Two shops are like two stools, a man comes to 
the ground between them. 

You may burst the bag by trying to fill it too full, 

and ruin yourself by grasping at too much. 

In a great river great fish are found, 

But take good heed lest you be drowned. 

Make as few changes as you can, trees often trans- 
planted bear little fruit. 

If you have difficulties in one place, you will have 
them in another ; if you move because it is damp in 
the valley, you may find it cold on the hill. 

Where will the ass go that he will not have to 
work ; where can the cow live and not get milked ; 



272 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



where will you find land without stones, or meat 
without bones. Everywhere on earth men must eat 
bread in the sweat of their faces. 

To fly from trouble one must have eagle's wings. 

Alterations are not always improvements, as the 
pigeon said when he got out of the net and into the 
pie. 

There is a proper time for changing, and then mind 
yourself, for a sitting hen gets no barley ; but do not 
be forever on the shift, for a rolling stone gathers no 
moss. Stick to it, is the conqueror. He who can wait 
long enough will win. 

This, that, and the other, any thing and every 
thing, all put together, make nothing in the end. 

But on one horse a man rides home in due season. 

In one place the seed grows ; in one nest the hen 
hatches her eggs ; in one oven the bread bakes ; in 
one river the fish live ; do not be above your business; 
he who turns up his nose at his work quarrels with 
his bread and butter. He is a poor smith who is 
afraid of his own sparks. 

There is some discomfit in all trades except chim- 
ney sweeping. 

If sailors give up going to sea, because of the wet, 
if bakers left off baking because it is hot work, if 
ploughmen would not plough because of the cold, 
and tailors would not make our clothes for fear of 
pricking their fingers, what a pass we should come 
to. Nonsense, my fine fellow ; there is no shame 
about any honest calling, do not be afraid of soiling 
your hands, there is plenty of soap to be had. 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 273 



All trades are good to good traders ; a clever man 
can make money out of dirt. 

I knew a man that was so poor that he did not 
own even as much as a shovel and broom ; he bor- 
rowed them and an old wheel-barrow, and went 
through the streets of a little town and gathered up 
all of the garden and farm dirt that he could find ; 
begged permission to put it on an old lot in a heap 
outside of the city. He wheeled and gathered all 
day until late ; was up in the morning before the sun, 
and was hard at work until he saved and sold enough 
to buy an old horse and cart. Then he began his 
work afresh and in earnest, he gathered and sold 
enough to buy one acre of land on the end of a farm 
of a hundred acres, heaped his dirt on one end of the 
acre ; bought an old plow and cultivated the other 
part of it ; sold his produce to the market and his 
fertilizing substance to the farmers ; bought ten acres 
more and continued in this way, from year to year, 
until he was the owner of the " hundred acre" farm, 
with horses, servants, houses, cattle, and farm imple- 
ments, and to day, he is one of the richest men in 
Burlington county, New Jersey. All made out of 
dirt. Yes, I say, a clever fellow can make money 
out of dirt. 

You cannot get honey if you are frightened at the 
bees ; nor sow corn if you are afraid of getting mud 
on your boots. 

Lackadaisical gentlemen had better emigrate to 
Fools' land, where it is said men get their living by 
wearing shiny boots and lavender gloves ; where bars 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



of iron melt under the south wind ; where you can 
dig the fields with tooth-picks, and blow along ships 
with fans ; manure the crops with lavender water ; 
grow plum cakes in flower-pots ; there will be a fine 
field for dandies. But until the millennium comes 
we shall have a good " deal " to put up with, and 
better bear our present burdens, than run helter skel- 
ter where we will find matters a deal worse. Plod 
is the word. Every one must row with such oars as 
he has; and as he cannot choose the wind, he must 
sail by such as God sends hirn. 

Patience and attention will get on in the long run. 
If the cat sits long enough at the hole, she will catch 
the mouse. 

Always-at-it grows good cabbage and lettuce where 
grow thistles. I know as a ploughman, that it is up 
and down, up and down the fields that ploughs the 
acres. There is no getting over the ground by a 
mile at a time. 

He who plods on the clods, on rods, will turn off 
the sods while laziness nods. Keep your weather 
eye open. Sleeping poultry are carried off by the 
fox. Who watches not, catches not. Fools ask what 
o'clock, but wise men know their time. Grind while 
the wind blows, or if not, do not blame Providence. 

God sends every bird its food, but he does not 
throw it into the nest. He gives us our daily bread, 
but it is through our own labor. 

Take time by the forelock, be up early and catch 
the worm. The morning hour carries gold in its 
mouth. He who drives last in the row gets all the 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 275 



dust in his eyes. Rise early and you will have a 
clear start for the day. 

Never try dirty dodges to make money. It will 
never pay to lick honey off of thorns. Never ruin your 
soul for the sake of pelf — it is like drowning your- 
self in a well to get a drink of water. Better that 
the bird starve than be fattened for the spit. The 
mouse wins little by nibbling the cheese, if he does 
get caught in the trap. 

Clean money or none, mark that, for gain badly 
gotten will be an everlasting loss. A good article, 
full weight, and a fair price, brings customers to the 
shop ; but people do not recommend the shop where 
they are cheated ; cheats never thrive. The long 
bowman may hit the mark, but a fair shot is the 
best. A rogue's purse is full of holes. He will have 
blisters on his feet who wears stolen shoes. The 
more the fox robs, the sooner he will be hunted. 

Look most to your spending ; no matter what 
comes in, if more goes out you will always be poor. 
The art is not making money so much, but keeping 
it. Like mice in a barn, where there are many, they 
make great waste. Hair by hair the head gets bald, 
drop by drop the rain comes into the chamber. A 
barrel is soon empty, if the tap leaks but a drop a 
minute. When you mean to save begin with your 
mouth. There are many thieves down the red lane. 
The jug of ale is the great waster. In all other 
things keep within compass. A fool may make 
money, but it takes a wise man to spend it. 



276 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 

We sometimes hear of people who wake up in the 
morning and find themselves famous. We all have 
a vague idea that this will happen to us some day, 
but very often we fail to find that we are the ones 
who are famous. 

This is the grand reason that I do not believe in 
luck; and it is for this that I hold up to you the lives 
of successful people as an incentive to the young. 
Were it not for the hope of success, we would all 
descend to the level of vegetables, with no more 
sense than an oyster. 

The first point to be attained is a fixed purpose 
Young people say, we have no definite purpose. 
Then I say get one. Suppose you fix upon riches, 
if you steadily pursue it you will attain it. Keep 
faithfully in the road. Be not led off by dalliance 
with love or with luxury. Do you want fame, then 
give up all hope of riches. Do you desire a repu- 
tation for integrity, no matter about riches, no 
matter about fame, every effort tending to the pur- 
suit of honor w T ill secure it. On this rule how is it 
that some parties fail, and they do fail sometimes 
most disastrously, but it was not because luck had 
any thing to do with it. For I defy you to point 
me to a single instance where a man failed who pur- 
sued his object without turning aside. 

This I could prove had I the time. The poorest 
man alive was one who had riches and nothing else. 
The man who piled up wealth was, however, the 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 2JJ 



representative of the theory. He allows nothing to 
turn him aside. Every one should aim high. I be- 
lieve in stimulating the youth by prizes. Many a 
boy has his soul fired by the hope that he will be 
president. What if he only has one chance in thirty 
millions. If he aims so high he will attain a posi- 
tion that will be honorable to him and useful to 
society. 

The presidency would have added no glory to 
Clay or Webster, and yet they were successful ; and 
if politicians tell us truly, there are men who have 
been president, and yet not been a success. There 
are men who convert all of their talents into change, 
and cry bad luck. They can give advice in a variety 
of trades, and yet those men fritter away their tal- 
ents altogether because they are broken into small 
change. 

They are like the lady who had run the gauntlet 
of forty lovers, and earned a reputation for being 
fickle. She said I am not fickle, but very unlucky, 
for just when I get the beau that I like I am intro- 
duced to some man whom I like better. She called 
this luck. But people in order to be successful must 
follow one thing and stick to it. Specialists are the 
successful people. Shakespeare was a specialist, he 
wrote plays and nothing else. Dickens was a spec- 
ialist, he wrote novels ; it is true he read in public, 
but he read only from his own novels. The man 
can only be successful who is a hard worker. What 
you get from the world you must wrest from it by 
your own power and not trust to luck. Believe you 



2 7 8 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



have nothing to ex«pect, that you must be trampled 
upon, that it is your lot to be put down. Then roll 
up your sleeves, and go into the fight with a deter- 
mination to win. I do not believe anybody was born 
with a love to work (not many at least), but we must 
cultivate it. Some people are too lazy to eat good 
food. 

The world never gives people credit for their worth 
and the greatest talents are never appreciated, unless 
they are supplemented by toil. Labor is the touch- 
stone to success, and so long as there are successful 
people in the world, there always will be talk about 
luck. But successful people do not believe in it, they 
know their success is due to hard labor. 

Half of the success of this life is built on failures. 
One failure defeats the man who believes in luck, 
but it only acts as an incentive to the one who cares 
very little about it. He is most to be admired who 
carves his success out of the rock ; who goes on with 
every thing against him, and fights his way at every 
step, and he it is who should hold the highest place. 
Such energy and success is worthy of the crown. 
General Grant is the successful tanner of Galena ; and 
so was Horace Greeley the poor printer boy of Xew 
Hampshire, one of the most successful men of the 
age ; and many others I might name. 

The world is a free arena, and many a one is as- 
tonished to find, when he goes into the battle, that 
what he thought was a giant, was nothing but a man 
like himself. Do you think the time of success has 
passed? Please do not believe that. Life has 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE, 279 

scarcely begun for a man when he is thirty years 
old. Dick Arkwright, the barber, at thirty, was Sir 
Richard Arkwright, the millionaire, at sixty. When 
a man is forty years, he stands where Marryatt did 
when he wrote his first novel. When Franklin dis- 
covered electricity, he was forty-one. Sir Oliver 
Evans was fifty when he gave a steam-engine to the 
world. 

It is never too late to win success. Time passes 
away, but success holds out his prize to the last, and 
says, I am for him who comes and wins me. Suc- 
cessful people are of several classes — there are those 
that are proud of their achievements, and those who 
are never satisfied. This is the spirit that leads to 
success ; but it breaks them down, kills them, and 
spoils all of their enjoyment. Men immersed en- 
tirely in business, are wearied out everv dav. By- 
and-by the machinery gets out of order. 

Genius is nothing but the power to work. I have 
no doubt the greatest genius of the world has never 
been heard of. The man who has a voice that would 
crumble to dust the throne of guarded kings, has 
never made a stump speech. Genius will not make 
successful people; hard work will. Genius idle can 
no more compete with common talent working, than 
a hare with a locomotive for speed. But when ge- 
nius rises up and girds itself for work, we see a Mo- 
zart, a Raphael, and a Shakespeare. 

I have an abiding faith in successful people, but 
none in luck. 

We have in Philadelphia a man who is a living 



28o 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



embodiment of some of the principles of my lecture. 
At eighteen he had a fixed purpose in life. Occupy- 
ing an obscure position in a newspaper office, with- 
out influence of any account, he said, "I will one day 
own this establishment. " It was regarded as an idle 
boast. But he had energy and persistence, and to- 
day he does own and control it. 

If I would hold up before you many successful 
men that are examples to the youth of this place, I 
would name the Rev. Daniel A. Payne, Rev. Alex- 
ander W. Wayman, Rev. Jabez P. Campbell, Rev. 
James A. Shorter, Rev. Thomas M. D. Ward, Rev. 
John M. Brown, Rev. Henry M. Turner, Rev. Rich- 
ard H. Cain, Rev. Stephen Smith, Rev. B. T. Tanner, 
Rev. B. F. Lee, Mr. J. P. B. Eddy, Mr. Isaiah C. 
Ware, Mr. J. C. Embry, Mr. William Whipper, 
Mr. George W. Childs, Mr. Frederick Douglass, and 
others. 

Success may not bring happiness, but the day will 
come when judgment will sit upon our actions, and 
he who has achieved it worthily, shall receive the 
greatest crown from the King of kings. 



AN ADDRESS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. 28 1 



"HOE YOUR OWN ROW. 

I think there are some maxims 

Under the sun, 
Scarce worth preservation, 

But here, boys, is one, 
So sound and so simple, 

Tis worth while to know, 
And all in a single line : 

" Hoe your own row," 

If you want to have riches, 

And want to have friends, 
Don't trample the means down 

And look for the ends ; 
But always remember, 

Wherever you go, 
The wisdom of practicing 

" Hoe your own row." 

Don't just sit and pray 

For increase of your store, 
But work ; who will help himself 

Heaven helps more. 
The weeds, while you're sleeping, 

Will come up and grow, 
And if you would have the 

Full ear, you must hoe ! 

Nor will it do only 

To hoe out the weeds ; 
You must make your ground mellow 

And put in the seeds ; 
And when the young blade 

Pushes through, you must know 
There is nothing will strengthen 

Its growth like the hoe ! 

There's no use of saying, 

What will be, will be ; 
Once try it, my lack-brain, 

And see what you'll see ! 



282 



CHURCH FINANCIERING. 



Why, just small potatoes, 

And few in a row ; 
You'd better take hold, then, 

And honestly hoe. 

A good many workers 

I've known in my time — 
Some builders of houses, 

Some builders of rhyme ; 
And they that were prospered, 

Were prospered, I know. 
By the intent and meaning of 

" Hoe your own row." 

I've known, too, a good many 

Idlers, who said, 
" I've a right to my living ; 

The world owes me bread." 
A right lazy lubber ! 

A thousand times, no ! 
'Tis his, and his only, 

Who hoes his own row. 



HYMN FOR THE DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. 283 



" How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! my soul longeth, yea, 
even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for 
the living God; for a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather 
be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wicked- 
ness.''— Ps. lxxxiv, 1, 2, 10. 



HYMN FOR THE DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. 



By Rev. J. W. STEVENSON, M. D. 

r. Father in Heaven, within these walls, 
We dedicate them to Thy name, 
As now we lift our song of praise, 

Set Thou our hearts and tongues aflame, 

2. Open our ears to hear Thy voice. 

And let our eyes Thy glory see, 
That w T e may worship Thee in truth. 
And in Thy spirit's liberty. 

3. No vain oblation would we bring, 

No hollow rite or empty form, 
But minds obedient to Thy will, 
And hearts by love to Thee made warm. 

4. Here may the gospel of Thy son, 

His quickening word of truth and grace, 
Be preached with power by lips sincere, 
While His pure spirit fills the place. 

5. May old and young receive with joy, 

The message of Thy word divine, 
And in their hearts, and homes, and lives, 
The light of truth effulgent shine. 

6. And while, O God, these walls shall stand, 

May peace and joy prevail within, 
Discord and strife be banished hence, 
And love a ceaseless victory win. 



* Dedicated to the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C. 



by Leading Eng- 
lish Educators. 



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We also sell other styles thus : — 

UPRIGHT PIANOS — ROSEWOOD. 

No- I. Seven Octaves, $250 No. 4. Seven and one-third Oc- 
No. 2. 44 300 taves, - - $400 

No. 3. Seven and one-third No. 5. Extra French Walnut 500 

Octaves, - - 325 Cottage Piano, 7 Oct. ( 96 

PIANOS MADE- TO ORDER OF VARIOUS WOODS TO MATCH FURNITURE, 



Will furnish Musical Instruments at lower rates than any house in New York. 

References : — Prof. J. Fisher ; Prof. W. C. A. Frerichs ; Geo.B. Davison » 
David Lockwood ; D. A. Depue (Supreme Court) ; Fred. Blanchard ; S. Fry 
Blanchard, Newark, N. J. ; Rev. J. R. Fisher, Presb., Orange, N. J. ; Rev. 
J. Krantz ; R. Johns ; F. Mason ; C. Clark, Newark, Conf. ; Prof. Bulling, 
N. Y. Conservatory of Music ; Rev. S. H. Piatt, Southampton, L. I. Special 
terms to clergymen, lodges, &c. 



TESTIMONIALS. 

From the great musical composer, Maurizzio G. Gianetti, member of the 
Centenary Committee of Awards on Pianos, and member of Committee on 
Awards at American Institute, N. Y . 

New York, Fed. 21, 1883. 
Messrs. Dickinson & Co.— Gents. : Allow me to congratulate you on having 
the finest Upright and Square Pianos I have ever placed my fingers on . The 
tone is so very pure and sympathetic, and yet powerful, while the touch is so 
elastic that an artist is involuntarily drawn to them. For perfect action, both 
elastic and responsive, superior workmanship and durability, these American 
Pianos have no superiors. Yours respectfully, 

MAURIZZIO G. GIANETTI, 

Vocalist and Pianist, N, Y. City. 
I have thoroughly examined the Upright pianos of Messrs. Dickinson & Co., 
and find them superior instruments. With an acquaintance of forty years with 
piano-making, I unhesitatingly recommend them as first-class. 

JOHN BRADFORD, 
Tuner, Regulator, & Supt, of Manufacturing Pianos, N. Y. 
Wyoming Seminary and Commercial College, I 
Kingston, Pa., March 15, 1883. j" 
The American Piano from Dickinson & Co., used in this Institute, gives 
excellent satisfaction. 

S. S. SPRAGUE, Principal. 
Bernardsville, N. J., March 12, 1883. 
The " Cabinet Grand" which I purchased from you is a source of much hap- 
piness and satisfaction in my family. The bass is full, deep and rich. The 
treble notes are beautifully clear and full, while the instrument as a whole may 
be said to be of almost orchestral capacity. Its power of " sostenuto " is like- 
wise so great that its singing qualities are most excellent. The case is very 
rich, and a beautiful specimen of cabinet work. 

Yours, F. A. MASON, Newark Conf. 

About a year ago I bought from you one of your $600 American Pianos. The 
members of my family, who are musical, are enthusiastic over its merits, and 
insist on me writing to express their admiration of its lightness of touch, qual- 
ity of tone and general excellence. They have used the flattering technical 
expressions of approval and appreciation which I have forgotten, and which 
I am not musical enough to understand. 

Yours, truly, ALEX. SWEET, 

October 10th, 1885. Editor Texas Siftings, N. Y. 

Order by check, draft, or registered letter after sending for descriptive 
catalogue to 

ZDIOXSLIKTSOKT, 

83 HAST 9TH STMEHT, A T . T. 



ESTABLISHED 50 YEARS. 



GEO. JARDINE & SON, 



<>< ORGAN 



FILBERS t> 



LIST OF OUR LARGEST GRAND ORGANS, 

Filtl Aye. caMral, N, Y. St. George's CMircH, n. Y, 
St. Paul's I. E. CHurcli, H. Y. Holy Innocents. N. Y. 
Brooklyn Tabernacle, HttsMrg Cathedral, 

St, Apes' (tocl, Brooklyn. 

FiftH Aye. Pres. CM, I. Y, MoDile Cathedral, 

St. Join's I. E. Brooklyn, First Pres. PMlaielpMa, 

CMst CM, New Orleans, Trinity CM , San Francisco 

Central Baptist, Brooklyn, Sacred Heart, Brooklyn, 

Temple, New YorK, Epiphany, PMlaielpMa. 

Bridge St, A. I. E. BrooHyn, Metropolitan A. I, E. Washington. 

318 and 320 EAST 39th STREET, NEW YORK. 




Highest Honors at the 
Centennial 1876. 



ESTABLISHED 1859. 



First Premium at the 
State Pair 1878 c 



CIisls. Jr. Burner, 

MANUFACTURER OF 

CHURCH ^ CHAPEL ORG-ANS, 

With all Modern Improvements and highest 
grade of Workmanship. 

Factory Corner Front and Juniper Sts., 

QUAKERTOWN, PA. 

Estimates and Specifications furnished on appli- 
cation, Hydraulic Motors furnished at 
lowest prices. 



CHAMPION 



POSITIVELY 
Non-Explosive 
"Will not 
BREAK *J 
the 

CHIMNEY. 

Gives a Lighi 
equal in Brilli, 
to 50 Candles, 

Gas Burners 
This is the most 
Powerful and 
Perfect 
LIGHT 
ever made 
FROM OIL. 



w-an be used on your 
old Gas or Oil Chande- 
liers or brackets, and 
will increase your light 
THREE-FOLD, 



AGENTS 
WANTED 




Patent Safety 
EXTINGUISHES 

Cleanly* 



of 
OIL. 

THE CHAMPION 

is tlie Best, 
Cheapest and 
Safest Lamp 
for Churches, 
Halls, or 
Family Use. 



Send for 
Illustrated 
Circular. 



A. J. 

36 S. 2d St., 

PHXLA. 
Sole Owner 
of Patent. 



